#+TITLE: Agora Requirements: User Journey & Product Experience
#+AUTHOR: Project Agora
#+DATE: 2026-03-26

* The Sovereign User Journey

This document outlines the cohesive, narrative user journey of the Agora platform, illustrating how the underlying technical primitives (Master Keys, DIDs, PDS, Lightning, and Smart Contracts) translate into a seamless product experience.

** Phase 1: Onboarding (The Birth of the Persona)

- *Download & Seed:* The user downloads the app. The very first action the app takes is generating a cryptographic Seed Phrase (the Master Key / Anima). This anchors their sovereignty immediately.
- *Persona Creation:* The user is not asked to create a global "Username." Instead, they create context-specific Personas, for example, a "Work" persona and a "Social" persona. Behind the scenes, the app derives two distinct DIDs from the single Master Key.
- *The Founder Connection (Minors):* For younger users (minors), a parent or guardian can scan a QR code to "Co-sign" the identity inception. This immediately establishes the Succession Logic and delegated authority outlined in the Identity specifications.
- *PDS Selection:* The user is prompted with: "Where would you like to store your data?" They are presented with options and might select a Community PDS run by a local NGO or guild they trust, ensuring their data sovereignty from day one.

** Phase 2: Consumption & "Seeding" (The Data Economy)

- *Choosing a Lens:* The user navigates to the "Marketplace" and selects a curation algorithm, such as the "Scientific Signal" Lens. Their feed instantly rearranges to prioritize verified research and high-signal content, bypassing centralized algorithmic manipulation.
- *Micro-Earning (Bandwidth Sharing):* The user watches a video. In their settings, a toggle is enabled: "Support this creator by seeding." As they watch, their phone (via WebRTC) serves bits of the video to 3 other nearby users, acting as an ephemeral CDN node.
- *The Reward:* Because they provided bandwidth and aided the network, the creator’s PDS sends a micro-transaction "Thank You" of 5 sats ($0.002) directly to the user’s integrated Lightning wallet. While small, this passive income covers the cost of their own PDS hosting for the month.

** Phase 3: The Civil Contract (Digital Law)

- *The Deal:* User A wants to purchase a custom-built chair from User B.
- *The Contract:* They click "Create Contract" and select a standardized Markdown Template for "Handmade Goods."
- *Arbitration Choice:* Both parties agree to use the "Carpenters' Guild" as the Level 2 Arbitrator in case of a dispute.
- *The Lock:* User A pays the Lightning invoice. The funds move into a HODL Escrow. User B sees the "Funds Locked" status and confidently begins building the chair.
- *The Delivery:* User B delivers the chair. User A scans a QR code physically attached to the chair, which acts as the cryptographic release of the Preimage, instantly settling the smart contract and paying User B.

* Related Documents
- [[file:agora-requirements-02-identity.org][02 Identity (Master Keys & Personas)]]
- [[file:agora-requirements-03-infrastructure.org][03 Infrastructure (PDS & WebRTC Seeding)]]
- [[file:agora-requirements-06-exchange-and-contracts.org][06 Exchange & Contracts (HODL Escrows & Arbitration)]]