DLP Specification
Part V: Human Interface Layer

§16 IQ Capture

Emergence-oriented cognitive overflow capture. Eight intent types. Decision-blocking. Promotion paths.

§16 IQ Capture

v2.0.0 · Locked · L1 · March 19, 2026

§16 Purpose

IQ Capture is the mechanism by which humans capture cognitive emergence during substrate operation. When working in the governance substrate, ideas branch, questions surface, patterns appear, and gaps become visible. These cognitive events do not attach to any single governed object — they are the overflow of active sense-making. IQ Capture provides a structured landing place for this overflow, converting tacit cognitive events into structured, investigable governance data.

IQ Capture is an extension point, not a primitive. The DLP-Core protocol defines the emergence capture requirement through behavioral invariant B9 (§5): every resolved Investigative Query must produce a Decision. The ProtoLex Substrate provides the implementation — intent types, origin types, routing logic, lifecycle management, and promotion paths. IQ is not one of the 19 primitives (§4); it is an operational mechanism that operates on primitives through promotion: a resolved IQ can produce Work, Decision, or Intent primitives.

§16 Foundation

§14 provides the parent capture framework. This section specifies IQ Capture as the second of two concrete capture mechanisms. Signal Capture (§15) specifies the first. IQ Capture serves a single architectural purpose: preventing organizational amnesia. Ideas, questions, patterns, and gaps that surface during governance operation are captured rather than lost. IQ is the exhaust valve for cognitive overflow — not an add-on feature, but part of the operating experience.

§16 Governance

No governance authority distinct from lineage for this document.

§16 Substance

§16.1 IQ Capture Definition

Table 16.1.1: IQ Capture Boundary

IQ Capture ISIQ Capture IS NOT
Emergence-oriented — "something surfaced that needs a home"A flag that something is wrong — use Signal Capture (§15) for object-level problems
Generative — creating new investigative threads from cognitive eventsA complaint mechanism or support ticket
Context-anchored or free-floating — may reference origin context or stand aloneObject-anchored — signals require a specific flagged object; IQs do not
Optionally attached to any governed objectA bug report — defects in governed objects are Signal territory
Routed to an investigator (self, domain expert, or object authority)Routed to the flagged object's authority chain — that is Signal routing (B8)

Distinction from Signal Capture. Signal Capture (§15) flags problems with existing objects — "THIS thing is wrong." IQ Capture surfaces cognitive overflow — "something emerged that needs a home." The mechanisms are parallel, not subordinate (§14.5). A signal is reactive and object-attached. An IQ is generative and context-attached or free-floating.

Six design principles govern IQ Capture:

  1. Zero friction. One entry (observation text) to complete capture. Intent type selection and context are available but never required for submission.
  2. Always available. IQ Capture is globally accessible from any point in the substrate. Every screen MUST include a global capture entry point.
  3. Structurally typed. Eight intent types classify the cognitive event and inform routing. Categories map to resolution paths.
  4. Optionally deep. Priority, assignment, linked objects, and rich context are available but optional. Capture MUST succeed at minimum effort.
  5. Context preserved. A snapshot of the user's working context at capture time is recorded with every IQ. This snapshot is immutable — it preserves what the human was working on at the moment of capture.
  6. Investigator-routed. IQs route to an investigator — self-assignment by default for personal inquiry, domain expert or object authority for validation and challenge types.

§16.2 Intent Types

Eight intent types classify the cognitive event that triggered the capture. The first six are first-order intent types: they capture cognitive emergence about the governed world. The last two are second-order intent types (§14.6): they capture concerns about the capture process itself. All eight use the same IQ lifecycle.

Table 16.2.1: Intent Type Definitions

Intent TypeDescriptionTypical PromptEventual Resolution
exploreCuriosity, hypothesis generation"I wonder if..."Research → Claim or dismissal
validateVerification need, doubt about a current state"Is this actually true?"Confirm or refute → Claim
disambiguateSemantic confusion, unclear meaning"What does this mean exactly?"Clarification → Definition
fill_gapMissing information detected"We don't know X yet"Research → Evidence
challengeActive dispute, suspected error"I suspect this is wrong"Investigation → Restatement
connectPattern recognition, relationship sensed"This relates to something else"Link discovery or dismissal
branch_inventoryMultiple threads emerged during a session or decision boundarySession boundary, complex inputThread triage: pursued, parked, dropped, merged, or promoted
confidence_probeGap between stated and felt confidenceBehavioral trigger detectionDisposition clarity: settled, parked, provisional, or needs revisit

Branch inventory specifics. Branch inventory IQs record all detected threads from a session or decision boundary. Each thread receives a disposition: pursued, parked, dropped, merged, or promoted. The capture method records how the inventory was generated: explicit (human volunteers), prompted (system asks at boundary), or detected (agent identifies and proposes for human confirmation). Branch inventories MUST record all detected threads, not only those pursued. Dropped threads MUST have a disposition recorded, even if the disposition is "unknown."

Confidence probe specifics. Confidence probe IQs are agent-initiated under Assistive posture — the agent detects behavioral signals (short acknowledgments, quick topic changes, circling without landing, compound questions) and prompts the human. The probe is opt-in: the human may dismiss without responding. Dismissal is itself recorded as a disposition — no response is not no data. When a response is received, a confidence adjustment may be recorded (before/after confidence levels with reason). The agent cannot record a disposition on the human's behalf. The human remains the sensor; the agent amplifies the sensor's sensitivity. No autonomy escalation is permitted.

§16.3 Origin Types

Four origin types classify how an IQ was created. Each origin type carries different context and determines default routing.

Table 16.3.1: Origin Type Definitions

Origin TypeSourceDefault RoutingContext Captured
claimSpawned from claim adjudication (§6.5) — a question surfaces during claim reviewRoute to claim reviewerClaim identity, claim state at spawn time, evidence references
signalSpawned from signal processing (§15) — deeper investigation requiredRoute to signal's authority holderSignal identity, signal type, flagged object identity and state
captureDirect human capture — global or contextual entry pointRoute to capturer (self-assign default)Current work context: origin URL, object type and identity if contextual, session identity
workflowSystem-generated from workflow trigger — a workflow step surfaces a gapRoute per workflow routing rulesWorkflow identity, trigger condition, workflow state at trigger time

Table 16.3.2: Routing Defaults by Intent Type

Intent TypeDefault AssignmentRationale
exploreSelfPersonal curiosity, low urgency
validateObject authorityVerification requires authoritative answer
disambiguateDomain expert poolSemantic questions need expertise
fill_gapSelf or research functionInformation gathering
challengeObject authorityDisputes need authoritative review
connectSelfPattern connection is personal insight
branch_inventorySelfSession-boundary reflection is personal
confidence_probeSelfAgent-initiated but human-decided disposition

Origin type determines the initial routing target. Intent type refines assignment within that routing context. When origin type and intent type routing defaults conflict, origin type takes precedence for the routing target; intent type informs the assignment method within that target's scope.

§16.4 IQ Schema

The IQ schema defines field requirements at the architectural level. Substrate implementations MUST provide these fields; they MAY extend with additional fields.

Table 16.4.1: IQ Schema — Required Fields

FieldTypeImmutableDescription
iq_idIdentifierFrom creationUnique IQ identifier
capture_textTextFrom creationThe human's articulation of the cognitive event — IMMUTABLE; original preserved exactly as captured
intent_typeEnumeration (8 types)From creationCognitive event classification — one of the eight intent types (§16.2)
origin_typeEnumeration (4 types)From creationCreation source — one of the four origin types (§16.3)
raised_byReference → EntityFrom creationThe human who captured the IQ
raised_atTimestampFrom creationWhen the IQ was captured
statusEnumeration (7 states)NoCurrent lifecycle state — see §16.5
capture_contextObjectFrom creationOrigin context at capture time — IMMUTABLE (see Table 16.4.3)

Table 16.4.2: IQ Schema — Optional Fields

FieldTypeImmutableDescription
assigned_toReference → EntityNoCurrent investigator — updated on assignment and reassignment
resolutionObjectFrom resolutionResolution record: summary, resolver identity, timestamp, linked artifacts, resolution_decision_id
promoted_toArray of ReferencesFrom promotionWork, Decision, or Intent primitives created by promotion — each entry records target_type and target_id
superseded_byReference → IQFrom supersessionThe IQ that absorbed or replaced this one
parent_signal_idReference → SignalFrom creationSource signal identity, when origin_type = "signal"
parent_claim_idReference → ClaimFrom creationSource claim identity, when origin_type = "claim"
blocking_decision_idReference → DecisionFrom creationDecision this IQ blocks, when created from a decision context (§16.6)
capture_text_versionsArray of ObjectsAppend-onlyEdit history: each entry records version_text, edited_by, edited_at
related_iqsArray of ReferencesNoLinks to related IQs for cross-referencing

Table 16.4.3: Capture Context Schema

FieldRequirementDescription
origin_urlREQUIREDThe URL or screen the human was viewing at capture time
origin_object_typeOPTIONALPrimitive type of the object in view, if contextual capture
origin_object_idOPTIONALIdentifier of the object in view, if contextual capture
origin_object_labelOPTIONALHuman-readable label of the object in view
session_idREQUIREDSession identifier for continuity tracking
captured_atREQUIREDTimestamp of context capture

Immutability constraint. Capture text is IMMUTABLE. The original human articulation is preserved exactly as captured. Edits create new versions appended to capture_text_versions with editor identity and timestamp. The original capture_text field is never modified. This ensures the original cognitive event is never retroactively rewritten — the governance record preserves what was articulated at the moment of emergence.

Progressive immutability. Fields set at creation (capture text, intent type, origin type, attribution, capture context) are never modified. Fields set during processing (assignment, resolution, promotion) are immutable from their assignment point. This mirrors the progressive immutability model of Signal Capture (§15.4).

§16.5 IQ Lifecycle

The IQ lifecycle governs instances from capture through resolution, promotion, abandonment, or supersession. The authoritative lifecycle specification is the state machine companion (v9/state-machines/iq-lifecycle.md); this subsection provides the architectural summary.

Seven states. Three terminal, one soft-terminal.

Table 16.5.1: IQ Lifecycle Summary

StateEntry ConditionExit TransitionsAuthority Required
OpenIQ created via capture event, signal spawn, claim spawn, or workflow trigger→ Assigned (investigator designated) or → Superseded, → AbandonedNone — any human may capture an IQ
AssignedInvestigator designated (self, routed, or manual)→ Investigating (work begins) or → Assigned (reassignment) or → Superseded, → AbandonedSystem (auto-route) or any authorized actor
InvestigatingInvestigator begins active work→ Resolved, → Promoted, → Abandoned or → Assigned (return to pool) or → SupersededAssigned investigator
ResolvedAnswer found and documentedSoft-terminal: → Open (reversion on new information)Assigned investigator
PromotedIQ converted to one or more primitives (Work, Decision, Intent)TerminalAssigned investigator
AbandonedIQ determined no longer relevantTerminalAssigned investigator or IQ authority
SupersededAnother IQ absorbs or replaces this oneTerminalIQ authority or superseding IQ's investigator

Soft-terminal: Resolved. A resolved IQ MAY be re-opened if new information surfaces that contradicts or materially extends the original findings. Re-opening transitions the IQ back to Open and creates a new investigation cycle. The original resolution record is preserved (append-only). If the question resurfaces after a promoted IQ, a new IQ is created — promoted IQs cannot revert.

Terminal: Promoted, Abandoned, Superseded. Promoted IQs have been operationalized into primitives; further questions create new IQs. Abandoned IQs carry documented rationale; if the question resurfaces, a new IQ is created with a link to the abandoned predecessor. Superseded IQs link to the superseding IQ that inherited their investigation context.

Table 16.5.2: Resolution Paths

PathFrom StateTo StateWhat HappensRequired Artifacts
Resolved (answer found)InvestigatingResolvedInvestigation complete; findings documented; may produce Claims entering graduation (§6.5) at stage AssertedResolution summary, resolver identity, timestamp, resolution_decision_id, linked claims (if any)
Promoted to WorkInvestigatingPromotedInvestigation reveals effort is required — task decomposition, resource allocation, or execution beyond simple inquirypromotion_targets[] with target_type = "Work" and target_id, promotion rationale, resolution_decision_id
Promoted to DecisionInvestigatingPromotedInvestigation reveals a choice point — the question cannot be resolved by research alonepromotion_targets[] with target_type = "Decision" and target_id, promotion rationale, resolution_decision_id
Promoted to IntentInvestigatingPromotedInvestigation reveals a strategic gap — an organizational objective not yet formally capturedpromotion_targets[] with target_type = "Intent" and target_id, promotion rationale, resolution_decision_id
AbandonedAny active stateAbandonedIQ determined no longer relevantAbandonment rationale, resolver identity, timestamp, resolution_decision_id
SupersededAny active stateSupersededAnother IQ absorbs this oneSuperseding IQ identity, supersession rationale, resolution_decision_id

B9 enforcement. Every terminal transition — Resolved, Promoted, Abandoned, Superseded — MUST produce a resolution_decision_id pointing to a Decision primitive (§4.1) that records the governance act of resolving the IQ. The resolution act IS a governance decision: it links to an Account (B4), is legitimized by the resolver's Authority (B5), and produces an Evidence record (the resolution summary) with truth type Declared (§6). This ensures no IQ resolution is invisible to the governance record. An IQ that reaches a terminal state without a resolution_decision_id is a B9 violation.

Multiple promotion. A single IQ MAY produce multiple promotion targets simultaneously when the investigation reveals compound findings. An IQ exploring a compliance gap might simultaneously produce a Work item to remediate the gap, a Decision to choose between remediation approaches, and an Intent to formalize a new compliance objective. Each target is recorded in the promotion_targets[] array. The single resolution_decision_id covers the governance act of the composite promotion.

Promotion invariant requirements. Promoted primitives MUST satisfy their own behavioral invariants independently: Work requires Commitment (B1), Decision requires Account (B4). The IQ's investigation context becomes part of the promoted primitive's evidentiary basis, but the promoted primitive carries its own governance obligations.

§16.6 Decision-Blocking Interaction

IQs interact with the Decision lifecycle through a blocking mechanism. When a Decision participant identifies an investigation need, the formal mechanism ensures the Decision waits for findings rather than proceeding with incomplete information.

Blocking flow. A Decision participant says "I need to investigate first." An IQ is created with origin_type = "capture" and blocking_decision_id pointing to the Decision. The Decision enters a blocked state — pending, blocked by the open IQ. The IQ proceeds through its lifecycle normally (Open → Assigned → Investigating → terminal). When the IQ reaches any terminal state (Resolved, Promoted, or Abandoned), the Decision is unblocked. IQ findings are available as evidence input to the Decision.

Table 16.6.1: Decision-Blocking Constraints

ConstraintRuleRationale
Blocking is voluntaryThe actor chooses to create a blocking IQ; the system does not auto-blockInvestigation need is a human judgment, not a system determination
One-to-manyA single Decision can be blocked by multiple IQs; all must resolve before the Decision unblocksMultiple investigation needs may exist for a single Decision
Abandonment unblocksIf a blocking IQ is abandoned, the Decision unblocksThe investigation was deemed unnecessary; the Decision can proceed
Supersession transfersIf a blocking IQ is superseded, the block transfers to the superseding IQThe investigation continues under a different IQ; the blocking relationship follows
Promotion unblocksIf a blocking IQ is promoted to a Decision, the original blocked Decision unblocksThe promoted Decision is a new governance object; the original Decision is no longer blocked
IQ findings as evidenceWhen a blocking IQ resolves, its findings enter the Decision's evidence basisThe Decision proceeds with the investigation context the participant needed

Distinction between resolution_decision_id and promoted Decision. The resolution_decision_id records the governance act of resolving the IQ — it is the Decision that says "we investigated and here is what we found." A promoted Decision is a new governance object representing the choice point the IQ revealed. These are two distinct Decision instances. The first closes the IQ; the second opens a new governance thread.

§16.7 Capture Entry Points

IQ Capture MUST be accessible from two classes of entry point: global (available from any substrate screen) and contextual (available from specific governed object views with auto-filled origin context).

Table 16.7.1: Global Capture Entry Points

LocationTriggerContext Captured
Header or navigation barPersistent capture iconCurrent URL, timestamp, session identity
Command paletteCapture command or keywordCurrent URL, timestamp, session identity
Mobile floating actionCapture action buttonCurrent screen, timestamp, session identity

Table 16.7.2: Contextual Capture Entry Points

ContextTriggerAdditional Context
During Work execution"Something came up" action on the Work viewWork item identity and state
During Decision making"I need to investigate first" action on the Decision viewDecision in progress, trigger context, blocking relationship auto-created
During Evidence review"This raises a question" action on the Evidence viewEvidence item identity, associated claim if applicable
From dashboard or monitoringQuick capture from monitoring viewDashboard state, active filters
From agent interaction"Agent noticed → Human interprets" — agent surfaces a pattern; human captures interpretationAgent observation, pattern detected, agent identity

DESIGN SPACE: UI patterns — icon choice, keyboard shortcuts, button placement, modal flow — are implementation decisions. The architecture requires two capabilities: (a) global access from any substrate screen, and (b) contextual access from any governed object view that auto-fills origin context. Substrate implementations MUST satisfy both. They MAY choose any UI pattern that meets the zero-friction and always-available design principles (§16.1).

§16.8 Governance Constraints

Five governance constraints ensure that IQ Capture maintains structural integrity across the capture, investigation, and resolution lifecycle.

Table 16.8.1: IQ Governance Rules

RuleConstraintRationale
Capture text immutabilityOriginal capture_text is write-once; edits create new versions in capture_text_versions[] with editor identity and timestampProtects the original cognitive event from retroactive rewriting — the governance record preserves what was articulated at the moment of emergence
Resolution requirementsEvery terminal transition MUST record: resolution summary, resolver identity, timestamp, linked artifacts, and resolution_decision_idEnsures every IQ resolution is a traceable governance act (B9); no IQ is informally dismissed
Pattern privacyIQ capture patterns by user MUST NOT be used for performance evaluation, supervisor visibility without explicit consent, or aggregation that identifies individualsPrevents chilling effect on emergence capture — the mechanism requires that humans feel safe asking questions without fear of judgment
Re-opening rulesA Resolved IQ MAY be re-opened with documented rationale and new evidence reference; re-opening creates a new investigation cycle with original resolution preservedMaintains audit trail while allowing new information to reactivate investigation
Promotion traceabilityEvery promoted primitive MUST link back to its source IQ via origin_iq_id; the IQ MUST record the promoted primitive via promoted_to[]Preserves bidirectional lineage from cognitive emergence through investigation to organizational action

Priority inference. Four conditions boost IQ priority:

ConditionPriority BoostRationale
Origin is Decision in progress+1IQ is blocking a Decision; timely resolution prevents governance delay
Origin is compliance domain+1Regulatory implications warrant faster investigation
Intent is challenge+1Active dispute requires timely resolution to prevent organizational drift
Multiple similar IQs exist+1Pattern emerging; organizational attention warranted

Cross-mechanism interaction. IQ Capture interacts with Signal Capture (§15) at two integration points. A signal in Processing state may spawn an IQ (§15.7) when deeper investigation is required; the signal enters Monitoring and tracks the IQ's resolution. An IQ during investigation may spawn a signal when a problem with a specific governed object is discovered. Both interactions create bidirectional links for lineage traversal (§14.5).

Truth type assignment. The IQ capture act produces Authoritative truth (§6) — a human's articulation of cognitive emergence is a fact about what surfaced in their thinking. IQ resolution produces Declared truth — it represents the resolver's best current judgment. Promoted artifacts carry the truth type rules of their target primitive class (§14.4).

§16 Boundaries

IQ Capture is limited to cognitive emergence and investigation contexts. It does not create governance records directly; promotion creates records. IQ routing targets investigators, not authority chains. IQs may be context-anchored or free-floating; they do not require object attachment.

§16 Positions

Locked positions:

  1. IQ Capture is generative and emergence-oriented; it captures cognitive events that do not anchor to specific objects.
  2. All eight intent types are required; six are first-order (emergence about the governed world), two are second-order (emergence about capture itself).
  3. IQ capture text is immutable from creation; edits create versioned entries without modifying the original.
  4. Every resolved IQ MUST produce a resolution_decision_id recording the governance act of resolution (B9 enforcement).
  5. IQs can spawn Signals and vice versa with bidirectional traceability.
  6. Resolved IQs are soft-terminal and may revert to Open if new information surfaces; Promoted/Abandoned/Superseded are hard-terminal.
  7. Decision-blocking is voluntary, one-to-many, and unblocks automatically when the blocking IQ reaches any terminal state.
  8. Promotion targets (Work, Decision, Intent) each create a primitive instance carrying its own behavioral invariants.

§16 Lineage

Version history:

  • v2.0.0 (2026-03-19): Locked specification with eight intent types, four origin types, comprehensive schema with capture context, seven-state lifecycle with soft-terminal Resolved, B9 enforcement via resolution_decision_id, decision-blocking mechanism, global and contextual entry points, and governance constraints on capture immutability and pattern privacy.

Provenance:

This section defines IQ Capture as a concrete instantiation of the Capture Principle (§14.1) with full intent/origin taxonomy, schema, lifecycle, blocking interaction, entry points, and governance constraints. It specifies behavioral enforcement of B9 (every resolved IQ produces a Decision) with comprehensive resolution paths, promotion targets, and promotion invariants.

§16 Commitments

SDK MUST constraints:

  • MUST enforce B9: every terminal transition (Resolved, Promoted, Abandoned, Superseded) produces a resolution_decision_id pointing to a Decision primitive.
  • MUST provide global IQ capture entry points on every substrate screen.
  • MUST provide contextual IQ capture entry points with auto-filled origin context on all governed object views.
  • MUST preserve capture text immutability: original capture is write-once; modifications create versioned entries in capture_text_versions[].
  • MUST preserve capture context immutability: origin context snapshots are immutable from creation.
  • MUST implement eight intent types with first-order/second-order classification.
  • MUST implement four origin types with type-specific routing defaults.
  • MUST implement seven-state lifecycle with soft-terminal Resolved allowing reversion and hard-terminal Promoted/Abandoned/Superseded.
  • MUST enforce progressive immutability: fields set at creation are never modified; fields set during processing are immutable from assignment.
  • MUST support decision-blocking: IQs created with blocking_decision_id block the referenced Decision until the IQ reaches a terminal state.
  • MUST support multiple promotion: a single IQ may produce multiple promotion targets simultaneously.
  • MUST enforce promotion invariants: promoted primitives satisfy their own behavioral invariants independently.
  • MUST implement bidirectional signal-IQ traceability with navigable links in both directions.
  • MUST preserve pattern privacy: IQ capture patterns by user MUST NOT be used for performance evaluation without explicit consent.
  • MUST support IQ re-opening: Resolved IQs MAY revert to Open with documented rationale; original resolution is preserved append-only.
  • MUST assign truth types: IQ capture is Authoritative; IQ resolution is Declared; promoted artifacts carry their target primitive's truth type rules.

§16 Coverage

This section provides complete coverage of:

  • IQ Capture definition with boundary clarification (emergence vs. problems, generative vs. reactive).
  • Eight intent types spanning first-order cognitive emergence (explore, validate, disambiguate, fill_gap, challenge, connect) and second-order lineage (branch_inventory, confidence_probe).
  • Four origin types (claim, signal, capture, workflow) with type-specific routing defaults.
  • Eight routing defaults by intent type with conflict resolution rules.
  • IQ schema with 8 required fields and 9 optional fields covering identity, immutability, lifecycle, assignment, resolution, promotion, and traceability.
  • Capture context schema with 6 fields for origin preservation.
  • Immutability constraints for capture text with versioning and progressive immutability model.
  • Seven-state lifecycle with entry conditions, exit transitions, and authority requirements.
  • Soft-terminal Resolved state with reversion rules.
  • Hard-terminal states (Promoted, Abandoned, Superseded) with lifecycle preservation.
  • Six resolution paths with required artifacts for each path.
  • B9 enforcement requiring resolution_decision_id for all terminal transitions.
  • Multiple promotion enabling compound findings.
  • Promotion invariant requirements linking promoted primitives to source IQ and governing invariants.
  • Decision-blocking interaction with voluntary blocking, one-to-many relationships, and unblock triggers.
  • Global and contextual capture entry points with context capture details.
  • Five governance constraints: capture text immutability, resolution requirements, pattern privacy, re-opening rules, promotion traceability.
  • Priority inference rules for Decision-blocking, compliance origin, challenge intent, and pattern emergence.
  • Cross-mechanism signal-IQ interactions with bidirectional traceability.
  • Truth type assignment: Authoritative for capture, Declared for resolution, target-dependent for promotion.

Completeness is achieved. All IQ capture flows, investigation paths, promotion routes, decision blocking, and governance constraints are fully specified.