The 3D Foundation

Layer 0: The Three Orthogonal Dimensions

The Cormorant Foraging Framework is built on three irreducible, orthogonal dimensions that form the foundation of all intelligence operations.

These dimensions cannot be derived from each other.

Why Three Dimensions?

The Orthogonality Test

Dimension	Physics	Math Property	Derivable?
Sound (Chirp)	Frequency	Additive	❌ No
Space (Perch)	Position	Multiplicative	❌ No
Time (Wake)	Duration	Exponential decay	❌ No

Each dimension represents a fundamentally different type of information:

You cannot calculate urgency from structure
You cannot derive position from memory
You cannot infer time from signals

This is why they form a complete foundation.

🔊 ChirpIQX — The Sound Dimension

Biological Basis

Cormorants use vocalizations to communicate urgency, coordinate hunting, and signal threats. The chirp is immediate, attention-grabbing, and time-sensitive.

What It Measures

Metric	Description	Examples
Signal Strength	How loud/clear is the signal?	Command clarity, keyword presence
Urgency	How time-sensitive is this?	"Now", "Breaking", "Alert"
Momentum	Is attention increasing?	Trending topics, viral signals
Impulse	Does this demand immediate action?	Direct commands, imperatives

Mathematical Property: Additive

Chirp Score = Base Signal + Urgency Modifier + Momentum Boost

Multiple chirp signals add up:

"URGENT: Breaking news NOW!" = High base + urgency + momentum
Scores accumulate rather than multiply

In Practice

Browser Automation:

javascript

// High Chirp examples
"Click the Submit button NOW"        // Chirp = 90
"URGENT: Download this file"         // Chirp = 85
"Please search for..."               // Chirp = 70

// Low Chirp examples
"Maybe look at this later"           // Chirp = 20
"When you get a chance..."           // Chirp = 15

Content Analysis:

javascript

// High Chirp indicators
- Breaking news
- Trending hashtags
- Viral momentum
- Time-limited offers
- "Watch now", "Don't miss"

// Low Chirp indicators
- Evergreen content
- Reference material
- "Comprehensive guide"
- Historical analysis

Chirp Scoring Formula

javascript

function calculateChirp(text, context) {
  let score = 0;

  // Base signal (0-40)
  score += detectSignalStrength(text);

  // Urgency keywords (0-30)
  const urgencyWords = ['urgent', 'now', 'breaking', 'alert', 'immediate'];
  score += countKeywords(text, urgencyWords) * 10;

  // Momentum (0-30)
  score += detectTrendingSignals(context);

  return Math.min(score, 100);
}

🏗️ PerchIQX — The Space Dimension

Biological Basis

Cormorants perch on rocks, branches, or posts to survey the hunting area. From this vantage point, they assess structure, relationships, and spatial positioning before diving.

What It Measures

Metric	Description	Examples
Structure	How well-organized is this?	DOM hierarchy, architecture quality
Relationships	How do elements connect?	Links, dependencies, flow
Position	Where is this in the landscape?	Navigation depth, hierarchy level
Completeness	Are all pieces present?	Required fields, data integrity

Mathematical Property: Multiplicative

Perch Score = Impact × Confidence × Ease

This is the ICE scoring framework from product management:

Impact: How valuable is this structure?
Confidence: How reliable is this assessment?
Ease: How accessible is this?

In Practice

Browser Automation:

javascript

// High Perch examples
Button with id="submit-btn"          // Perch = 90 (clear selector)
Form with proper labels               // Perch = 85 (semantic structure)
Well-structured navigation            // Perch = 80

// Low Perch examples
div.button.btn.primary.x123          // Perch = 30 (generic classes)
Nested 12 levels deep                 // Perch = 25 (poor structure)
No semantic HTML                      // Perch = 20

Content Analysis:

javascript

// High Perch indicators
- Clear hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
- Proper semantic HTML
- Structured data
- Clear navigation
- Visual organization

// Low Perch indicators
- Flat structure
- No headings
- Generic selectors
- Poor information architecture

Perch Scoring Formula

javascript

function calculatePerch(element) {
  let impact = 0;
  let confidence = 0;
  let ease = 0;

  // Impact: How important is this element?
  impact = assessImportance(element); // 0-100

  // Confidence: How reliable is our understanding?
  if (element.id) confidence += 40;
  if (element.getAttribute('aria-label')) confidence += 30;
  if (element.name) confidence += 20;
  if (element.textContent) confidence += 10;

  // Ease: How accessible is this?
  const depth = getElementDepth(element);
  ease = Math.max(0, 100 - (depth * 5));

  // ICE multiplication (normalized)
  return (impact * confidence * ease) / 10000;
}

⏰ WakeIQX — The Time Dimension

Biological Basis

The wake trail left by a cormorant persists in the water after diving, creating a temporal pattern. Cormorants return to productive fishing spots, demonstrating spatial-temporal memory.

What It Measures

Metric	Description	Examples
Memory	Does this match past patterns?	Historical context, previous actions
Continuity	Does this follow from before?	Session history, user journey
Decay	Is this information still fresh?	Time since last update
Patterns	Have we seen this before?	Recurring events, cycles

Mathematical Property: Exponential Decay

Wake Score = Initial Value × e^(-λt)

Where:

Initial Value = Original relevance (0-100)
λ (lambda) = Decay rate
t = Time elapsed

Information loses value over time unless refreshed.

In Practice

Browser Automation:

javascript

// High Wake examples
Previous action: Filled form field     // Wake = 90 (recent context)
User journey: Login → Dashboard        // Wake = 85 (clear path)
Session memory: Last 5 actions         // Wake = 80

// Low Wake examples
No session history                     // Wake = 20
First visit, no context                // Wake = 15
Unrelated to previous actions          // Wake = 10

Content Analysis:

javascript

// High Wake indicators
- Returning visitors
- Series/episodic content
- Callbacks to previous work
- Builds on established concepts
- Channel history alignment

// Low Wake indicators
- First-time visitors
- Standalone content
- No prerequisites
- Brand new topics

Wake Scoring Formula

javascript

function calculateWake(actionHistory, currentAction) {
  let score = 0;

  // Pattern matching (0-40)
  score += findMatchingPatterns(actionHistory, currentAction);

  // Continuity (0-30)
  score += assessContinuity(actionHistory);

  // Recency decay (0-30)
  const timeSinceLastAction = Date.now() - getLastActionTime();
  const decayFactor = Math.exp(-timeSinceLastAction / 60000); // 1-min half-life
  score += 30 * decayFactor;

  return Math.min(score, 100);
}

The Three-Medium Mapping

The three dimensions map directly to the three mediums where cormorants operate:

Dimension	Medium	Element	Intelligence Type
Chirp	Air	Sound	Signal detection
Perch	Land	Space	Spatial awareness
Wake	Water	Time	Pattern memory

This is why the framework is complete:

The cormorant masters all three mediums
Intelligence requires all three dimensions
Remove any one → the system fails

Completeness Proof

The Starvation Test

Missing Dimension	Result	Why
No Chirp	Misses opportunities	Can't detect urgent signals
No Perch	Dives randomly	No spatial understanding
No Wake	Repeats mistakes	No memory or learning

A cormorant that only perches starves.A cormorant that only remembers starves.A cormorant that senses, surveys, and remembers — survives.

The Sufficiency Test

Can you build a complete intelligence system with these three?

✅ Perception:  Chirp + Perch + Wake = Complete environmental awareness
✅ Measurement: f(Chirp, Perch, Wake) = DRIFT (gap calculation)
✅ Action:      f(Chirp, Perch, Wake, DRIFT) = Fetch (decision)
✅ Learning:    Feedback updates all three dimensions

Yes. The three dimensions are sufficient.

Dimensional Independence

Can you derive one from another?

Chirp from Perch? ❌

Strong structure doesn't imply urgency
A well-built, non-urgent form scores: Perch=90, Chirp=20

Perch from Wake? ❌

Memory doesn't imply structure
Remembering a broken site: Wake=80, Perch=30

Wake from Chirp? ❌

Urgency doesn't imply history
A new urgent alert: Chirp=90, Wake=10

They are orthogonal. ✅

Using the Foundation

Example: Browser Automation Decision

Scenario: User says "Click the Submit button"

Measure all three:

javascript

const chirp = 90;  // "Click" is direct command
const perch = 75;  // Found button, good selector
const wake = 85;   // User just filled the form

These form the foundation for DRIFT and Fetch calculations.

Example: Content Publishing Decision

Scenario: Should you publish this video now?

Measure all three:

javascript

const chirp = 45;  // Moderate trending topic
const perch = 80;  // Well-structured, good thumbnail
const wake = 70;   // Fits channel history

Feed into DRIFT to measure gap, then Fetch to decide.

Why This Foundation Works

1. Biomimetic Validation

Cormorants have used this for 200 million years
Evolution optimized these three, not four or two

2. Mathematical Elegance

Three different math properties (additive, multiplicative, exponential)
Cannot be reduced to fewer dimensions
Sufficient for complete intelligence

3. Observable Anchoring

Chirp: Detectable signals
Perch: Measurable structure
Wake: Trackable history

4. Universal Applicability

Works for browser automation
Works for content analysis
Works for trading decisions
Works for any decision domain

Next Steps

Now that you understand the 3D foundation:

DRIFT (Measurement) - Learn how to measure gaps
Fetch (Action) - Learn how to decide when to act
Use Cases - See the foundation in practice

"Three dimensions. Three mediums. One complete intelligence system." 🦅

The 3D Foundation ​

Layer 0: The Three Orthogonal Dimensions ​

Why Three Dimensions? ​

The Orthogonality Test ​

🔊 ChirpIQX — The Sound Dimension ​

Biological Basis ​

What It Measures ​

Mathematical Property: Additive ​

In Practice ​

Chirp Scoring Formula ​

🏗️ PerchIQX — The Space Dimension ​

Biological Basis ​

What It Measures ​

Mathematical Property: Multiplicative ​

In Practice ​

Perch Scoring Formula ​

⏰ WakeIQX — The Time Dimension ​

Biological Basis ​

What It Measures ​

Mathematical Property: Exponential Decay ​

In Practice ​

Wake Scoring Formula ​

The Three-Medium Mapping ​

Completeness Proof ​

The Starvation Test ​

The Sufficiency Test ​

Dimensional Independence ​

Can you derive one from another? ​

Using the Foundation ​

Example: Browser Automation Decision ​

Example: Content Publishing Decision ​

Why This Foundation Works ​

1. Biomimetic Validation ​

2. Mathematical Elegance ​

3. Observable Anchoring ​

4. Universal Applicability ​

Next Steps ​

The 3D Foundation

Layer 0: The Three Orthogonal Dimensions

Why Three Dimensions?

The Orthogonality Test

🔊 ChirpIQX — The Sound Dimension

Biological Basis

What It Measures

Mathematical Property: Additive

In Practice

Chirp Scoring Formula

🏗️ PerchIQX — The Space Dimension

Biological Basis

What It Measures

Mathematical Property: Multiplicative

In Practice

Perch Scoring Formula

⏰ WakeIQX — The Time Dimension

Biological Basis

What It Measures

Mathematical Property: Exponential Decay

In Practice

Wake Scoring Formula

The Three-Medium Mapping

Completeness Proof

The Starvation Test

The Sufficiency Test

Dimensional Independence

Can you derive one from another?

Using the Foundation

Example: Browser Automation Decision

Example: Content Publishing Decision

Why This Foundation Works

1. Biomimetic Validation

2. Mathematical Elegance

3. Observable Anchoring

4. Universal Applicability

Next Steps