Situation Signals
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Same person. Different moment.
At your usual restaurant, you might come alone, bring a friend, or stop for a quick meal before a train. The host knows you, but does not treat every visit the same. AI needs that same sensitivity. Situation Signals help it understand what kind of support fits this moment.
Six Signals
There are six groups of signals. Physical Signals. Cognitive Load Signals. Social Exposure Signals. Priority Weight Signals. Form Factor Signals. And Feasibility Signals. Together, they describe what you can do, how much attention you have, who is around, what matters, which devices can help, and what is actually possible.
Physical Signals
First, Physical Signals. What can your hands, eyes, and voice comfortably do right now? On a crowded train, one hand holds a strap and the other holds your phone. A shoe comparison becomes one card at a time, with Skip, Hold, and Keep within reach of your thumb. The task continues, with less physical effort.
Hands busy, conversation open
At home, you and your child are preparing lunch. Both hands are busy, so “Next step, please” may be easier than touching a screen. The recipe stays visible while you hear one short instruction. Physical Signals describe your current ability to interact. They should help preserve the experience, not make assumptions about what you can understand.
Different bodies, rich experiences
Reclining in bed does not mean you are asleep or want less detail. With a screen on a stand, you may want to explore films using only your voice. Driving is different: attention belongs on the road, and a nonessential comparison can wait. The right adaptation depends on the actual situation, not a stereotype about a posture or disability.
Cognitive Load Signals
Second, Cognitive Load Signals. How much room do you have to think? In a square ten minutes before a meeting, you are reviewing your notes. A brief answer may help. In the same square on a free Saturday, you may welcome a detailed comparison. The location is identical. Your available attention is not. And if the AI guesses wrong, you should be able to ask for more.
Social Exposure Signals
Third, Social Exposure Signals. Is this device private, shared with family, or visible to strangers? A surprise gift delivery can appear on your own phone, but stay off the family television. A crowded train calls for another level of care. The signal describes the audience. The Disclosure Dial sets what may be shared with that audience. They work together, but they are different parts of Context Grammar.
Priority Weight Signals
Fourth, Priority Weight Signals. What matters most for this task? You may have plenty of time to browse shoes on Saturday, but today your child needs a pair for PE tomorrow. Arrival time becomes more important than discovering every possible design. This is not the same as being mentally overloaded. It is a change in priorities: fit and tomorrow’s deadline come first, while preferences still guide the choices that remain.
Form Factor Signals
Fifth, Form Factor Signals. Which devices are available, and what can each one do? At home, eight shortlisted black sneakers move onto the television, large enough for your child to compare. Your phone keeps the prices, delivery dates, and purchase controls. This is more than mirroring a small screen. Each device plays a different part in one shared decision.
Two signals. One sharing boundary.
Three parts cooperate here. Form Factor Signals identify the usable screens. Social Exposure Signals describe who can see each one. The Disclosure Dial keeps purchasing details with the parent. A nearby screen is not automatically yours to use. The assistant should use only devices you can access and have allowed for this task.
Feasibility Signals
Sixth, Feasibility Signals. Can this option actually work? Let’s look back at how those eight pairs were shortlisted. Start with a larger set of shoes. Remove pairs that lack the right size, are out of stock, or arrive too late. Eight viable options remain. Some can be delivered in time. Others are available for pickup today. A useful assistant explains that difference, checks current availability, and leaves the purchase decision with you.
When the situation changes
Now you are carrying a bag through a noisy station. A pickup option is about to become impractical: the shop closes before your delayed train arrives. A brief visual cue can flag that change. Once you are settled, your phone offers the remaining delivery options without making you restart the search. No order changes by itself. The important part is keeping the decision moving as the situation changes.
Leave room to be corrected
Just because there is a meeting on your calendar doesn’t mean you’re actually busy right now—it might have wrapped up early. If an AI shortens its response assuming you’re pressed for time, framing it as: “I kept this brief—would you like more detail?” gives you an effortless way to steer it back.
Decision Schema
In the same way that yesterday’s stock check is not the same as inventory confirmed this second, every piece of information carries a shelf life and a degree of doubt. That is why the system tracks each signal with its source, its confidence level, whether you verified it, and a safe fallback when facts are missing. We call that underlying structure the Decision Schema.
One intention. The right support.
The Six Signals shape a single intention into the right kind of support for this specific person. They help an AI adapt while staying open to correction. Read the Situation Signals chapter to explore the full framework. Next, the Relationship Dials: how much should an AI share, and how far should it act on your behalf? Those boundaries belong to you.
