Scanner Darkly Pass

Named after Philip K. Dick’s novel about seeing beneath surfaces

Definition

A Scanner Darkly Pass is a deep inspection of hidden, preview, and steganographic content across the platform to ensure accuracy and consistency with public-facing documentation.

Distinction from Other Systems

What Gets Scanned

1. Steganographic Preview (Durin’s Door)

Hidden preview content that non-members can access:

• VIP landing pages
• Pre-registration flows
• Invitation-only previews

Check for:

• Promises matching actual features
• Pricing consistent with live platform
• Legal disclaimers present

2. Easter Eggs & Hidden Content

Discoverable content throughout platform:

• Golden Key puzzle clues
• Hidden phrases in documents
• 3D environment secrets
• Quote collection items

Check for:

• Clues still valid (not broken by doc changes)
• Rewards still deliverable
• No unintended spoilers in search results

3. Member-Only Documentation

Content behind authentication:

• Under the Hood deep-tier
• Founder’s lore
• Strategy documents

Check for:

• No contradictions with public docs
• Appropriate access controls
• No PII or sensitive data leakage

4. Preview/Beta Features

Features in development but accessible to some:

• A/B test variants
• Beta user features
• Soft-launched capabilities

Check for:

• Clear beta labeling
• Graceful degradation if removed
• No promises of permanence

Scanner Darkly Pass Checklist

Pre-Pass Setup

• Identify all hidden content locations
• Create test accounts with appropriate access levels
• Document expected vs. actual behavior
• Prepare comparison baseline

Steganographic Preview

• Access each VIP landing page
• Verify all claims match live platform
• Check pricing accuracy
• Confirm legal disclaimers
• Test registration flows

Easter Eggs

• Attempt each Golden Key path
• Verify all clues are discoverable
• Confirm rewards are granted correctly
• Check hint system functionality
• Test contingency paths

Member Documentation

• Review all member-only pages
• Cross-reference with public docs
• Check for contradictions
• Verify access controls
• Scan for sensitive data

Beta Features

• List all beta features
• Verify beta labeling
• Test removal scenarios
• Check user communication

Post-Pass Actions

• Document all issues found
• Prioritize by severity
• Create fix tickets
• Schedule re-scan

Severity Levels

Integration with Other Passes

Nervous System Pass

• Scanner Darkly is a SUBSET of Nervous System Pass
• Run Nervous System Pass first (broad)
• Run Scanner Darkly Pass second (deep on hidden)

GRAFTING

• Scanner Darkly verifies hidden content created during GRAFTING
• Ensures hidden features match documented innovations

SENTINEL

• SENTINEL monitors for CHANGES to hidden content
• Scanner Darkly verifies ACCURACY of hidden content

Automation Opportunities

Example Scanner Darkly Pass Report

# Scanner Darkly Pass Report
## Date: [Date]
## Performed by: [Agent]

### Summary
- Pages scanned: 47
- Issues found: 3
- Critical: 0
- High: 1
- Medium: 2
- Low: 0

### Issues

#### HIGH: Preview page claims "Free for first 100 members"
- Location: `/vip/early-access`
- Expected: Current policy
- Actual: Outdated promotional language
- Fix: Update copy to current terms

#### MEDIUM: Golden Key clue references deleted document
- Location: Clue #4 in `founder-story.md`
- Expected: Clue leads to valid location
- Actual: Referenced doc moved
- Fix: Update clue pointer

#### MEDIUM: Innovation count outdated
- Location: `/under-the-hood/master-context-tree`
- Expected: 1,117+
- Actual: 1,021
- Fix: Update count

### Recommendations
1. Implement automated pricing consistency check
2. Add clue validation to SENTINEL
3. Schedule monthly Scanner Darkly Pass

Scheduling

Related Systems

• Nervous System
• SENTINEL System
• GRAFTING Process
• Golden Key Puzzle
• Steganographic Preview (Durin’s Door)

“Through a scanner darkly we see the truth beneath the surface.”

For the Keep.