Towards a Formal Theory of Protocols

Venkatesh Rao (referred to as Benitesh Raalo in the transcript) launches a technical-foundations track for the Protocol Institute, proposing to formalize protocol studies the way control theory formalized manufacturing or general equilibrium theory formalized economics. He walks through worked examples—handwashing as a 'micro protocol' modeled via finite automata and grammar rules, and his own 2004-2006 Air Force battlespace simulation work using region connection calculus and temporal interval calculus—to illustrate how protocols might be formalized across a 'basket of protocols' ranging from Ethereum to royal court etiquette. Timber Stinson-Schroff co-hosts, announcing a parallel 'tension field theory' special interest group and a six-month study group culminating in a fall 'Basket of Protocols' workshop.

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