ACE Spec 0.9

GNOMON Field: Reactive Aesthetics + Drift Feedback

Purpose

Make calibration non-manual: the interface continuously expresses alignment state through subtle, reversible visual behavior (“shadow feedback”), without punishing or confusing first-time users.

Non-Goals

  • No horror/glitch aesthetics.

  • No accessibility violations (no unreadable text, no seizure-risk motion).

  • No “shaming” UI. Distortion signals state, not judgment.

1) State Model

AlignmentState (ordered):

  • NORTH_LOCKED (ideal)

  • NORTH_STABLE (good)

  • DRIFT_LOW (minor deviation)

  • DRIFT_MED (admissibility at risk)

  • DRIFT_HIGH (must correct before advancing)

  • BASECELL_HOLD (quarantine/arbitration holding state)

DriftScore: float 0.0–1.0

ShadowLength: derived scalar 0–100 (presentation only)

Mapping (example):

  • 0.00–0.10 → NORTH_LOCKED

  • 0.10–0.25 → NORTH_STABLE

  • 0.25–0.45 → DRIFT_LOW

  • 0.45–0.70 → DRIFT_MED

  • 0.70–0.90 → DRIFT_HIGH

  • 0.90–1.00 → BASECELL_HOLD

2) Visual Channels (Allowed Distortions)

Use at most 3 channels at once. The system should feel “calibrating,” not “breaking.”

Channel A — Focus Fidelity (primary)

  • NORTH: crisp edges, stable text rendering.

  • DRIFT: introduce micro-softening on non-text surfaces only (backgrounds, frames, images).

  • Never blur body text; instead adjust surrounding elements.

Implementation primitives:

  • background image blur radius (0 → small)

  • overlay diffusion / slight haze on panels

  • border crispness (stroke width jitter = 0 when aligned)

Channel B — Shadow Geometry (signature)

Shadow length and angle represent drift.

  • NORTH: shadows short, vertical/orthogonal, consistent across components.

  • DRIFT: shadows lengthen + skew slightly; inconsistency increases with score.

Rules:

  • Shadow angle deviation max: ±7° at DRIFT_HIGH

  • Shadow length multiplier: 1.0 → 1.8 across drift range

  • In BASECELL_HOLD: shadows “detach” subtly (offset increases), but still clean

Channel C — Contrast / Luminance (secondary)

  • NORTH: high-contrast readable.

  • DRIFT: reduce contrast slightly in non-critical areas (decor, secondary panels).

  • Keep WCAG contrast for text and controls.

3) Distortion Targets (What Can Change)

Allowed:

  • background layers

  • image frames

  • decorative glyphs

  • ambient light overlays

  • card/container shadows

Protected (never distort):

  • body text

  • form inputs

  • primary navigation labels

  • legal/transactional confirmations

  • error messages

4) Transition Behavior (How It Moves)

  • Changes must be slow: 250–600ms easing

  • No sudden pops.

  • Use hysteresis so state doesn’t oscillate around thresholds.

Hysteresis example:

  • must cross threshold by +0.03 to worsen

  • must improve by -0.05 to recover

5) Cross-Domain Consistency

Each domain expresses drift differently, but must share:

  • same DriftScore semantics

  • same protected elements

  • same state labels internally

Domain accents:

  • Micro: precision cues (grid alignment, stroke crispness)

  • Basis/Loom: tension cues (warp/spacing regularity)

  • Semaphore: pulse coherence (timing regularity, not flashing)

  • Sombra: admissibility cues (threshold/doorway clarity)

  • Mercantile: settlement cues (ledger “snap” and invariants)

6) Admissibility Integration (Sombra)

Gate rule: links to higher complexity render but do not activate unless admissible.

Avoid “invisible links” (feels broken). Use “uninstantiated” presentation:

  • show destination card in a muted “latent” state

  • on hover: “Requires North-stable alignment”

  • click: routes to correction surface (Basis/Semaphore) or BASECELL_HOLD explainer

7) BASECELL_HOLD Presentation

BASECELL is not punishment. It is safe harbor.

Visual signature:

  • maximum stability (no motion)

  • clean monochrome plane

  • explicit message: “State held for correction. Nothing is lost.”

8) Telemetry (Minimal, Constitutional)

Log only:

  • DriftScore time series (coarse)

  • AlignmentState transitions

  • phase completion markers

No content logging of user text by default. (If later needed, treat as opt-in.)

9) “Shadow Feedback” Reference Table (Design Tokens)