Version: 1.1
Status: Public Reference
Last Updated: 13th January 2026
HALO is a public governance framework for systems that introduce scent or other airborne media into shared environments.
It defines when air-state modification is permitted to occur, rather than what is emitted.
The framework is technology-neutral and emphasises restraint, bounded behaviour, and default non-intervention.
The HALO Governance Framework defines behavioural principles for systems that introduce scent or other airborne media into enclosed or shared environments.
The framework does not define fragrance content, chemistry, safety, or sensory outcomes.
It defines when and whether air-state modification is permitted to occur.
This framework applies to devices, systems, and environments that are capable of introducing airborne media into air that may be shared by multiple occupants or experienced over time.
The framework is technology-neutral and may be implemented mechanically, electrically, digitally, or through hybrid architectures.
Air is treated as a shared, neutral medium.
Air-state modification is not assumed and is permitted only when it can occur in a bounded, governed manner that preserves the neutrality and integrity of the air environment.
Silence and non-intervention are valid and intended outcomes.
At no time shall a HALO system produce any visible emission, plume, mist, vapour, condensation, or airborne visual effect, under any operating, transition, calibration, or fault condition.
Systems conforming to this framework default to a non-emitting state (“hibernation”).
Hibernation represents correct operation and may persist indefinitely without indicating fault, inactivity, or error.
During hibernation, a system may continue to sense, monitor, or evaluate environmental or contextual conditions without producing air-state modification; awareness does not imply permission to act.
Transition from hibernation to air-state modification occurs only upon satisfaction of an internal eligibility determination.
Eligibility determination governs whether air-state modification may occur and is independent of user expectation, command repetition, or perceptibility.
Eligibility determination may be internal and non-observable.
Manual inputs, repeated actuation, voice commands, gesture control, neural or inferred intent, predictive modelling, or combinations thereof constitute requests only.
Such inputs do not initiate, compel, escalate, or bypass air-state modification.
Persistence does not create permission.
Where eligibility determination permits air-state modification, such modification occurs in a bounded manner and does not persist indefinitely.
Upon completion of a permitted modification event, the system returns automatically to hibernation.
Reset events, including power interruption, fault conditions, configuration inconsistency, consumable replacement, or undefined internal state, return the system to hibernation.
Where uncertainty exists, the system abstains from air-state modification.
Where environmental, contextual, or system conditions prevent bounded and governed operation, the system shall withdraw or abstain from air-state modification rather than escalate, compensate, or intensify emission.
Air-state modification occurs only where airborne media supports governed, bounded operation and return to hibernation.
Media that cannot be governed in accordance with system constraints is treated as incompatible and does not result in emission.
This framework does not validate composition, origin, safety, or sensory attributes of any media.
Eligibility is determined at the system level.
Where airborne media is associated with a host or environment that does not provide a governed context, air-state modification does not occur.
Physical integration of system components does not alter these principles.
Tier 2 systems operate under HALO as an authoritative decision layer for air-state modification, where non-action and refusal are valid and intended outcomes.
Systems conforming to this framework do not perform alerting, warning, signalling, medical, or safety functions.
In abnormal or uncertain conditions, the system maintains or returns to hibernation.
Air-state modification under this framework is transitional in nature.
Sustained neutrality and non-intervention represent the intended steady-state condition.
Systems that emit airborne media continuously, assume permission by default, rely solely on passive diffusion or airflow-driven exposure, or escalate emission through repetition are outside the scope of this framework.
This framework is provided as a public behavioural reference.
It may be cited, referenced, or implemented without license.