Timestamp
A unique temporal identifier associated with a State Transition.
h/ai Primitive Language
Volume V
Temporal Primitives
Temporal primitives describe how interaction progresses through time, creating an ordered history of state transitions, traversal, and commitment.
Overview
Temporal primitives describe the progression of interaction through time independently of participants, domains, information, or behavior. Every observable change creates an ordered temporal history that supports continuity, interruption, resumption, auditing, replay, and synchronization.
Rather than defining what information exists or what decisions are made, the Temporal family defines when those changes occur and how they relate to one another.
Primitive Definitions
Sequence
The ordered relationship between State Transitions, independent of elapsed time.
Duration
The measurable interval separating two timestamps or describing the lifetime of a state.
Transition
Movement from one state to another resulting from an event or action.
Traversal
Navigation through an ordered sequence of State Transitions.
Commitment
A Transition after which external consequence becomes irreversible.
Example: Interrupted Interaction
Temporal primitives preserve continuity by recording every State Transition. An interruption creates a new traversal while preserving the previous traversal for later resumption.
Reading
Transition 04
State:
Reading Chapter 3
↓
Transition 05
Interruption
↓
Reservation
Transition 06
Reservation Started
↓
Transition 07
Reservation Confirmed
↓
Traversal resumes
↓
Reading
Transition 08
Continue Chapter 3
Example: Commitment
Not every Transition produces external consequence. Commitment distinguishes reversible interaction from irreversible execution.
Customer Order
Transition
Bagel Selected
↓
Transition
Spread Selected
↓
Transition
Toast Preference
↓
Commitment
Submit Order
↓
External Consequence
Kitchen Begins Preparation
Relationship to Other Families
Agency
Agency determines who initiates interaction. Temporal records when interaction occurs.
Domain
Domain defines possible states. Temporal records movement between those states.
Information
Information defines what changes. Temporal defines when those changes occur.
Behavior
Behavior selects decisions and actions. Temporal records their execution.
Temporal Principle
Every observable change within a Human–AI system creates a State Transition. Ordered State Transitions produce Traversal, preserve continuity, enable interruption and resumption, and establish the temporal history of interaction.