Add landing screen as the app's entry point

Introduce a simple, show-don't-tell entry screen that lowers the "what
counts as a protocol" barrier and frames the activity as a short journey:

- Lead line "Examine the protocols around you" over a rotating, cross-fading
  list of deliberately diverse examples (traffic, code, kitchens, ritual,
  governance, play)
- Prominent "Begin" CTA above a three-step path: Describe / Understand / Share
- "About the Bicorder" link opens the existing help modal

Shown on first arrival; returning users with a reading in progress skip
straight to the diagnostic (computed synchronously, no flash). Remove the
now-redundant inline description from the focused flow.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

bicorder-app/README.md

@@ -104,6 +104,21 @@ When you click **Upload**, your readings will be:
 
 All uploaded readings are public and available for research and analysis. By uploading, you consent to releasing your diagnostic under a public domain license.
 
+#### Upload credentials and security model
+
+The upload feature posts directly from the user's browser to the Gitea API using an access token defined in `src/components/ExportControls.svelte` (`GITEA_TOKEN`).
+
+**This token is intentionally embedded in the client bundle, and that is acceptable here.** Because this is a purely static app, the browser must make the API call itself — there is no server-side code of ours to hold the token. Any credential the browser uses is therefore necessarily public; build-time environment variables would still be baked into the shipped JavaScript, so they would offer no real protection. The exposure is contained by *what the token can do* rather than by hiding it:
+
+- The token belongs to a **dedicated `bicorder-bot` account**, not to a personal account.
+- `bicorder-bot` is a **collaborator with write access only to the public [`protocol-bicorder-data`](https://git.medlab.host/ntnsndr/protocol-bicorder-data) repo**. It cannot push to any other repository.
+- It has **`admin: false`** on that repo, so it can only add/modify files — it cannot delete the repo or change its settings.
+- The token scope is `write:repository` (it cannot even read user account details).
+
+The entire worst-case blast radius is therefore: someone extracts the token and spams or vandalizes the contents of the public data repo. This is recoverable (revert the commits) and the repo contains only public submissions.
+
+**If the token is ever abused:** revoke it under the `bicorder-bot` account (Gitea → Settings → Applications → Access Tokens — note that tokens live under the *user account*, not the repo), generate a replacement with the same `write:repository` scope, update `GITEA_TOKEN` in `ExportControls.svelte`, and rebuild. Optionally, enable branch protection on the data repo's `main` branch as an additional safeguard.
+
 ## Browser Support
 
 - Modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

bicorder-app/src/App.svelte

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
   import FormRecommendation from './components/FormRecommendation.svelte';
   import AnalysisTransitionBanner from './components/AnalysisTransitionBanner.svelte';
   import HamburgerMenu from './components/HamburgerMenu.svelte';
+  import Landing from './components/Landing.svelte';
   import { BicorderClassifier } from './bicorder-classifier';
 
   // Load bicorder data and model from build-time constants
@@ -30,6 +31,32 @@
   let refreshKey = 0; // Used to force component refresh in focused mode
   let isHelpOpen = false;
 
+  // Show the landing screen on first arrival. Returning users who already have
+  // a reading in progress skip straight to the diagnostic. Computed
+  // synchronously (not in onMount) so the landing never flashes for them.
+  function hasReadingInProgress(): boolean {
+    if (typeof localStorage === 'undefined') return false;
+    try {
+      const saved = localStorage.getItem('bicorder-state');
+      if (!saved) return false;
+      const s = JSON.parse(saved);
+      const hasProtocol = !!s?.metadata?.protocol;
+      const hasValue = s?.diagnostic?.some(
+        (set: any) => set?.gradients?.some((g: any) => g?.value !== null && g?.value !== undefined)
+      );
+      return hasProtocol || hasValue;
+    } catch {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  let started = hasReadingInProgress();
+
+  function startReading() {
+    started = true;
+    currentScreen = 0;
+  }
+
   // Screen types
   type Screen =
     | { type: 'metadata' }
@@ -60,8 +87,8 @@
     });
 
     // Analysis screens (shown in both shortform and longform)
-    // Show useful/not-useful gradient first (index 3), then the others
+    // Show the useful gradient first (index 3), then the others
-    const analysisOrder = [3, 0, 1, 2]; // useful/not-useful, hardness, polarization, bureaucratic
+    const analysisOrder = [3, 0, 1, 2]; // useful, hardness, polarization, formal/informal
     analysisOrder.forEach((index) => {
       screens.push({ type: 'analysis', index, gradient: data.analysis[index] });
     });
@@ -77,11 +104,6 @@
   $: currentScreenData = screens[currentScreen];
   $: totalScreens = screens.length;
 
-  // Debug: log when screens change
-  $: if (screens) {
-    console.log(`Screens updated: ${screens.length} total, shortform: ${data.metadata.shortform}`);
-  }
-
   function goToNextScreen() {
     if (currentScreen < totalScreens - 1) {
       currentScreen++;
@@ -308,25 +330,30 @@
 
   function ldaScoreToScale(ldaScore: number | null): number | null {
     /**
-     * Convert LDA score to 1-9 scale.
+     * Convert LDA score to the analysis[2] "formal vs informal" 1-9 scale.
-     * LDA scores typically range from -4 to +4 (8 range)
+     * LDA scores typically range from -4 to +4 (8 range); target is 1-9.
-     * Target scale is 1 to 9 (8 range)
      *
-     * Formula: value = 5 + (ldaScore * 4/3)
+     * The model's sign convention (see analysis/bicorder_model.json):
-     * - LDA -3 or less → 1 (bureaucratic)
+     *   positive LDA → cluster 2 = Institutional/Bureaucratic = "formal"
-     * - LDA 0 → 5 (boundary)
+     *   negative LDA → cluster 1 = Relational/Cultural = "informal"
-     * - LDA +3 or more → 9 (relational)
+     * bicorder.json defines this gradient as 1 = formal, 9 = informal, so a
+     * positive LDA score must map toward 1 (formal). The score is therefore
+     * subtracted, not added.
+     *
+     * Formula: value = 5 - (ldaScore * 4/3)
+     * - LDA +3 or more → 1 (formal / institutional / bureaucratic)
+     * - LDA 0          → 5 (boundary, characteristics of both families)
+     * - LDA -3 or less → 9 (informal / relational / cultural)
      */
     if (ldaScore === null) return null;
 
-    // Scale: value = 5 + (ldaScore * 1.33)
+    const value = 5 - (ldaScore * 4.0 / 3.0);
-    const value = 5 + (ldaScore * 4.0 / 3.0);
 
     // Clamp to 1-9 range and round
     return Math.round(Math.max(1, Math.min(9, value)));
   }
 
-  function calculateBureaucratic(): number | null {
+  function calculateFormalInformal(): number | null {
     // Collect all diagnostic gradients with their set and gradient info
     const ratings: Record<string, number> = {};
 
@@ -334,7 +361,7 @@
       const setName = diagnosticSet.set_name;
       diagnosticSet.gradients.forEach((gradient) => {
         if (gradient.value !== null) {
-          // Create dimension name in format: SetName_left_vs_right
+          // Dimension name must match the model's keys: SetName_left_vs_right
           const dimensionName = `${setName}_${gradient.term_left}_vs_${gradient.term_right}`;
           ratings[dimensionName] = gradient.value;
         }
@@ -348,10 +375,10 @@
       // Get prediction from classifier (need detailed: true to get ldaScore)
       const result = classifier.predict(ratings, { detailed: true });
 
-      // Convert LDA score to 1-9 scale
+      // Convert LDA score to the 1-9 formal/informal scale
       return ldaScoreToScale(result.ldaScore);
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Error calculating bureaucratic/relational score:', error);
+      console.error('Error calculating formal/informal score:', error);
       return null;
     }
   }
@@ -367,8 +394,8 @@
           // Polarized/Centrist
           data.analysis[1].value = calculatePolarization();
         } else if (index === 2) {
-          // Bureaucratic/Relational (LDA classifier)
+          // Formal/Informal (LDA classifier)
-          data.analysis[2].value = calculateBureaucratic();
+          data.analysis[2].value = calculateFormalInformal();
         }
       }
     });
@@ -432,6 +459,9 @@
 
 <HelpModal bind:isOpen={isHelpOpen} />
 
+{#if !started}
+  <Landing on:begin={startReading} on:about={openHelp} />
+{:else}
 <main>
   <div class="header">
     <div class="header-left">
@@ -519,12 +549,6 @@
 
   {:else}
     <!-- FOCUSED MODE: Show one screen at a time -->
-    {#if currentScreen === 0}
-      <div class="description">
-        <p>A diagnostic tool for the study of protocols</p>
-      </div>
-    {/if}
-
     <div class="focused-container">
       {#if currentScreenData.type === 'metadata'}
         <div class="focused-screen">
@@ -574,6 +598,10 @@
         <div class="focused-screen gradient-screen">
           <div class="screen-category">ANALYSIS</div>
 
+          {#if screen.gradient.automated}
+            <div class="analysis-auto-note">auto-calculated</div>
+          {/if}
+
           {#if isFirstAnalysisScreen}
             <AnalysisTransitionBanner
               recommendation={formRecommendation}
@@ -675,6 +703,7 @@
     </div>
   {/if}
 </main>
+{/if}
 
 <style>
   main {
@@ -825,6 +854,15 @@
     opacity: 0.6;
   }
 
+  .analysis-auto-note {
+    text-align: center;
+    color: #888888;
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+    font-style: italic;
+    margin-top: -1.5rem;
+    margin-bottom: 2rem;
+  }
+
   .gradient-focused {
     padding: 0;
     display: flex;

bicorder-app/src/components/AnalysisDisplay.svelte

@@ -11,8 +11,39 @@
     notes: string;
   }>();
 
+  const scaleValues = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9];
+  const CENTER = 5;
+
   let showNotes = false;
   let notesText = gradient.notes || '';
+  let scaleEl: HTMLDivElement;
+
+  // Shared with GradientSlider: the track fills from the center (=) out to
+  // the chosen position (#), so distance from the middle reads at a glance.
+  type CellKind = 'empty' | 'center' | 'fill' | 'marker';
+
+  function cellKind(cell: number, value: number | null): CellKind {
+    if (value === null) return cell === CENTER ? 'center' : 'empty';
+    if (cell === value) return 'marker';
+    if (value > CENTER && cell >= CENTER && cell < value) return 'fill';
+    if (value < CENTER && cell > value && cell <= CENTER) return 'fill';
+    return 'empty';
+  }
+
+  function cellGlyph(kind: CellKind): string {
+    switch (kind) {
+      case 'marker': return '#';
+      case 'fill': return '=';
+      case 'center': return '+';
+      default: return '-';
+    }
+  }
+
+  function selectValue(value: number) {
+    if (gradient.automated) return;
+    dispatch('change', value);
+    scaleEl?.focus();
+  }
 
   function handleNotApplicable() {
     dispatch('change', null);
@@ -23,82 +54,35 @@
     showNotes = false;
   }
 
-  function handleScaleClick(event: MouseEvent) {
+  function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
     if (gradient.automated) return;
 
-    const target = event.currentTarget as HTMLElement;
+    const current = gradient.value;
-    const rect = target.getBoundingClientRect();
+    let next: number | null = null;
-    const x = event.clientX - rect.left;
-    const width = rect.width;
 
-    // Account for button padding to get actual text area
+    if (event.key === 'ArrowLeft' || event.key === 'ArrowDown') {
-    const styles = window.getComputedStyle(target);
+      next = current === null ? CENTER : Math.max(1, current - 1);
-    const paddingLeft = parseFloat(styles.paddingLeft);
+    } else if (event.key === 'ArrowRight' || event.key === 'ArrowUp') {
-    const paddingRight = parseFloat(styles.paddingRight);
+      next = current === null ? CENTER : Math.min(9, current + 1);
-
+    } else if (event.key === 'Home') {
-    const contentWidth = width - paddingLeft - paddingRight;
+      next = 1;
-    const xInContent = x - paddingLeft;
+    } else if (event.key === 'End') {
-
+      next = 9;
-    // Clamp to content area and get ratio
+    } else {
-    const ratio = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, xInContent / contentWidth));
+      return;
-
-    // Map to 1-9 with proper centering on each character position
-    const value = Math.min(9, Math.max(1, Math.floor(ratio * 9) + 1));
-
-    dispatch('change', value);
     }
 
-  function handleScaleTouch(event: TouchEvent) {
-    if (gradient.automated) return;
-
     event.preventDefault();
-    const target = event.currentTarget as HTMLElement;
+    event.stopPropagation();
-    const rect = target.getBoundingClientRect();
+    dispatch('change', next);
-    const touch = event.touches[0];
-    const x = touch.clientX - rect.left;
-    const width = rect.width;
-
-    // Account for button padding to get actual text area
-    const styles = window.getComputedStyle(target);
-    const paddingLeft = parseFloat(styles.paddingLeft);
-    const paddingRight = parseFloat(styles.paddingRight);
-
-    const contentWidth = width - paddingLeft - paddingRight;
-    const xInContent = x - paddingLeft;
-
-    // Clamp to content area and get ratio
-    const ratio = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, xInContent / contentWidth));
-
-    // Map to 1-9 with proper centering on each character position
-    const value = Math.min(9, Math.max(1, Math.floor(ratio * 9) + 1));
-
-    dispatch('change', value);
   }
-
-  function renderBar(value: number | null): string {
-    // Fixed scale with 9 positions using ||||#||||
-    if (value === null) {
-      return '||||+||||';
-    }
-    // Value is 1-9, position the # marker at the right spot
-    const positions = [
-      '#||||||||',
-      '|#|||||||',
-      '||#||||||',
-      '|||#|||||',
-      '||||#||||',
-      '|||||#|||',
-      '||||||#||',
-      '|||||||#|',
-      '||||||||#'
-    ];
-    return positions[value - 1];
-  }
-
-  $: barDisplay = renderBar(gradient.value);
 </script>
 
 <div class="analysis-gradient">
+  {#if gradient.automated && !focusedMode}
+    <div class="auto-note">auto-calculated</div>
+  {/if}
+
   <div class="gradient-row" class:focused={focusedMode}>
     {#if !focusedMode}
       <div class="term left">
@@ -109,22 +93,53 @@
     {/if}
 
     <div class="bar-container">
-      <button
+      {#if gradient.automated}
-        class="bar"
+        <!-- Read-only display of the auto-calculated value -->
-        class:interactive={!gradient.automated}
+        <div
-        class:automated={gradient.automated}
+          class="scale automated"
-        on:click={handleScaleClick}
+          role="img"
-        on:touchstart={handleScaleTouch}
+          aria-label="Analysis showing value {gradient.value ?? 'not calculated'}"
-        role={gradient.automated ? 'img' : 'slider'}
+          title="Auto-calculated"
-        aria-label={gradient.automated ? `Analysis showing value ${gradient.value || 'not calculated'}` : `Gradient scale between ${gradient.term_left} and ${gradient.term_right}`}
-        aria-valuemin={gradient.automated ? undefined : 1}
-        aria-valuemax={gradient.automated ? undefined : 9}
-        aria-valuenow={gradient.automated ? undefined : gradient.value}
-        title={gradient.automated ? 'Auto-calculated' : 'Click or tap on the scale to set value'}
-        disabled={gradient.automated}
         >
-        {barDisplay}
+          <span class="bracket" aria-hidden="true">[</span>
+          {#each scaleValues as n}
+            {@const kind = cellKind(n, gradient.value)}
+            <span class="cell {kind}">{cellGlyph(kind)}</span>
+          {/each}
+          <span class="bracket" aria-hidden="true">]</span>
+        </div>
+      {:else}
+        <!-- Interactive scale (same control as the diagnostic gradients) -->
+        <div
+          class="scale"
+          bind:this={scaleEl}
+          role="slider"
+          tabindex="0"
+          aria-label="Gradient scale between {gradient.term_left} and {gradient.term_right}"
+          aria-valuemin="1"
+          aria-valuemax="9"
+          aria-valuenow={gradient.value}
+          aria-valuetext={gradient.value === null ? 'Not set' : String(gradient.value)}
+          on:keydown={handleKeydown}
+        >
+          <span class="bracket" aria-hidden="true">[</span>
+          {#each scaleValues as n}
+            {@const kind = cellKind(n, gradient.value)}
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              class="cell {kind}"
+              tabindex="-1"
+              aria-label="Set value {n}"
+              aria-pressed={gradient.value === n}
+              title="{n}"
+              on:click={() => selectValue(n)}
+            >
+              {cellGlyph(kind)}
             </button>
+          {/each}
+          <span class="bracket" aria-hidden="true">]</span>
+        </div>
+      {/if}
     </div>
 
     {#if !focusedMode}
@@ -136,13 +151,6 @@
     {/if}
   </div>
 
-  <div class="value-display">
-    Value: {gradient.value !== null ? gradient.value : ''}
-    {#if gradient.automated}
-      <span class="auto-label">(auto-calculated)</span>
-    {/if}
-  </div>
-
   <div class="controls">
     {#if !gradient.automated}
       <div class="button-row">
@@ -176,6 +184,10 @@
     {/if}
   </div>
 
+  <div class="value-display">
+    Value: {gradient.value !== null ? gradient.value : ''}
+  </div>
+
   {#if showNotes}
     <div class="notes-editor">
       <textarea
@@ -210,15 +222,6 @@
     justify-content: center;
   }
 
-  .gradient-row.focused .bar-container {
-    width: 100%;
-  }
-
-  .gradient-row.focused .bar {
-    width: 100%;
-    min-width: 0;
-  }
-
   .term {
     text-align: center;
     font-size: 0.9rem;
@@ -232,59 +235,99 @@
     text-align: left;
   }
 
+  /* The bar is always centered within its container, on every screen size. */
   .bar-container {
     display: flex;
     justify-content: center;
   }
 
-  .bar {
+  .scale {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: stretch;
     font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;
     font-size: 1.8rem;
-    white-space: nowrap;
+    line-height: 1;
-    letter-spacing: 0.2rem;
-    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
     user-select: none;
-    min-width: 240px;
+    padding: 0.25rem 0.4rem;
-    text-align: center;
+    border: 2px solid transparent;
-    background-color: var(--bg-color);
+    border-radius: 3px;
-    color: var(--fg-color);
-    border: 2px solid var(--border-color);
   }
 
-  .bar.automated {
+  .scale:focus-visible {
-    cursor: default;
+    outline: none;
-    opacity: 0.6;
-  }
-
-  .bar.interactive {
-    cursor: pointer;
-    transition: border-color 0.2s;
-  }
-
-  .bar.interactive:hover {
     border-color: var(--hover-color);
   }
 
-  .bar.interactive:active {
+  .scale.automated {
-    background-color: var(--input-bg);
+    opacity: 0.6;
-    border-color: var(--fg-color);
+    cursor: default;
+  }
+
+  .bracket {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    opacity: 0.45;
+  }
+
+  .cell {
+    font-family: inherit;
+    font-size: inherit;
+    line-height: 1;
+    background: transparent;
+    color: var(--fg-color);
+    border: none;
+    padding: 0.35rem 0.3rem;
+    min-width: auto;
+    min-height: auto;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    transition: opacity 0.15s, color 0.15s;
+  }
+
+  /* Read-only cells in the automated display are not buttons */
+  span.cell {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    cursor: default;
+  }
+
+  /* Opacity tiers reinforce the gradient feel: faint track, brighter
+     fill, fully solid marker. */
+  .cell.empty {
+    opacity: 0.35;
+  }
+
+  .cell.center {
+    opacity: 0.55;
+  }
+
+  .cell.fill {
+    opacity: 0.75;
+  }
+
+  .cell.marker {
+    opacity: 1;
+    font-weight: bold;
+  }
+
+  button.cell:hover {
+    opacity: 1;
+    color: var(--hover-color);
+    background: transparent;
   }
 
   .value-display {
     text-align: center;
-    margin: 0.5rem 0;
+    margin-top: 0.75rem;
     font-size: 0.9rem;
+    color: #888888;
   }
 
-  .analysis-gradient .value-display {
+  .auto-note {
-    margin-top: 0.5rem;
+    text-align: center;
-    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
+    color: #888888;
-  }
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
-
-  .auto-label {
-    opacity: 0.6;
-    font-size: 0.8rem;
     font-style: italic;
+    margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
   }
 
   .controls {
@@ -383,10 +426,15 @@
       grid-row: 3;
     }
 
-    .bar {
+    .scale {
-      font-size: 1.4rem;
+      font-size: 1.5rem;
-      min-width: 200px;
+      padding: 0.25rem 0.2rem;
-      padding: 0.5rem;
+    }
+
+    /* Slim horizontal padding keeps the full track inside narrow
+       viewports; vertical padding preserves a tall tap target. */
+    .cell {
+      padding: 0.5rem 0.2rem;
     }
   }
 </style>

bicorder-app/src/components/ExportControls.svelte

@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
         showUploadDialog = false;
       } else {
         const errorData = await response.json();
-        throw new Error(errorData.message || `Upload failed: ${response.statusContents}`);
+        throw new Error(errorData.message || `Upload failed: ${response.statusText}`);
       }
     } catch (err) {
       console.error('Upload error:', err);

bicorder-app/src/components/GradientSlider.svelte

@@ -11,8 +11,40 @@
     notes: string;
   }>();
 
+  const scaleValues = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9];
+  const CENTER = 5;
+
   let showNotes = false;
   let notesText = gradient.notes || '';
+  let scaleEl: HTMLDivElement;
+
+  // Glyph shown in each cell, given the current value.
+  // The track fills from the center (=) out to the chosen position (#),
+  // so direction and distance from the middle read at a glance.
+  type CellKind = 'empty' | 'center' | 'fill' | 'marker';
+
+  function cellKind(cell: number, value: number | null): CellKind {
+    if (value === null) return cell === CENTER ? 'center' : 'empty';
+    if (cell === value) return 'marker';
+    if (value > CENTER && cell >= CENTER && cell < value) return 'fill';
+    if (value < CENTER && cell > value && cell <= CENTER) return 'fill';
+    return 'empty';
+  }
+
+  function cellGlyph(kind: CellKind): string {
+    switch (kind) {
+      case 'marker': return '#';
+      case 'fill': return '=';
+      case 'center': return '+';
+      default: return '-';
+    }
+  }
+
+  function selectValue(value: number) {
+    dispatch('change', value);
+    // Keep focus on the scale so arrow keys continue to adjust the value
+    scaleEl?.focus();
+  }
 
   function handleNotApplicable() {
     dispatch('change', null);
@@ -23,75 +55,28 @@
     showNotes = false;
   }
 
-  function handleScaleClick(event: MouseEvent) {
+  function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
-    const target = event.currentTarget as HTMLElement;
+    const current = gradient.value;
-    const rect = target.getBoundingClientRect();
+    let next: number | null = null;
-    const x = event.clientX - rect.left;
-    const width = rect.width;
 
-    // Account for button padding to get actual text area
+    if (event.key === 'ArrowLeft' || event.key === 'ArrowDown') {
-    const styles = window.getComputedStyle(target);
+      next = current === null ? CENTER : Math.max(1, current - 1);
-    const paddingLeft = parseFloat(styles.paddingLeft);
+    } else if (event.key === 'ArrowRight' || event.key === 'ArrowUp') {
-    const paddingRight = parseFloat(styles.paddingRight);
+      next = current === null ? CENTER : Math.min(9, current + 1);
-
+    } else if (event.key === 'Home') {
-    const contentWidth = width - paddingLeft - paddingRight;
+      next = 1;
-    const xInContent = x - paddingLeft;
+    } else if (event.key === 'End') {
-
+      next = 9;
-    // Clamp to content area and get ratio
+    } else {
-    const ratio = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, xInContent / contentWidth));
+      return;
-
-    // Map to 1-9 with proper centering on each character position
-    const value = Math.min(9, Math.max(1, Math.floor(ratio * 9) + 1));
-
-    dispatch('change', value);
     }
 
-  function handleScaleTouch(event: TouchEvent) {
+    // Handle the key here and keep it from bubbling to the app-level
+    // screen navigation (which also listens for arrow keys).
     event.preventDefault();
-    const target = event.currentTarget as HTMLElement;
+    event.stopPropagation();
-    const rect = target.getBoundingClientRect();
+    dispatch('change', next);
-    const touch = event.touches[0];
-    const x = touch.clientX - rect.left;
-    const width = rect.width;
-
-    // Account for button padding to get actual text area
-    const styles = window.getComputedStyle(target);
-    const paddingLeft = parseFloat(styles.paddingLeft);
-    const paddingRight = parseFloat(styles.paddingRight);
-
-    const contentWidth = width - paddingLeft - paddingRight;
-    const xInContent = x - paddingLeft;
-
-    // Clamp to content area and get ratio
-    const ratio = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, xInContent / contentWidth));
-
-    // Map to 1-9 with proper centering on each character position
-    const value = Math.min(9, Math.max(1, Math.floor(ratio * 9) + 1));
-
-    dispatch('change', value);
   }
-
-  function renderBar(value: number | null): string {
-    // Slider-style visualization with brackets and value number
-    if (value === null) {
-      return '[----+----]';
-    }
-    // Value is 1-9, show the number at its position along the slider
-    const bars = [
-      '[1--------]',  // value 1
-      '[-2-------]',  // value 2
-      '[--3------]',  // value 3
-      '[---4-----]',  // value 4
-      '[----5----]',  // value 5 (centered)
-      '[-----6---]',  // value 6
-      '[------7--]',  // value 7
-      '[-------8-]',  // value 8
-      '[--------9]'   // value 9
-    ];
-    return bars[value - 1];
-  }
-
-  $: barDisplay = renderBar(gradient.value);
 </script>
 
 <div class="gradient-container">
@@ -105,19 +90,35 @@
     {/if}
 
     <div class="bar-container">
-      <button
+      <div
-        class="bar"
+        class="scale"
-        on:click={handleScaleClick}
+        bind:this={scaleEl}
-        on:touchstart={handleScaleTouch}
         role="slider"
+        tabindex="0"
         aria-label="Gradient scale between {gradient.term_left} and {gradient.term_right}"
         aria-valuemin="1"
         aria-valuemax="9"
         aria-valuenow={gradient.value}
-        title="Click or tap on the scale to set value"
+        aria-valuetext={gradient.value === null ? 'Not set' : String(gradient.value)}
+        on:keydown={handleKeydown}
       >
-        {barDisplay}
+        <span class="bracket" aria-hidden="true">[</span>
+        {#each scaleValues as n}
+          {@const kind = cellKind(n, gradient.value)}
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            class="cell {kind}"
+            tabindex="-1"
+            aria-label="Set value {n}"
+            aria-pressed={gradient.value === n}
+            title="{n}"
+            on:click={() => selectValue(n)}
+          >
+            {cellGlyph(kind)}
           </button>
+        {/each}
+        <span class="bracket" aria-hidden="true">]</span>
+      </div>
     </div>
 
     {#if !focusedMode}
@@ -151,6 +152,10 @@
     </div>
   </div>
 
+  <div class="value-display">
+    Value: {gradient.value !== null ? gradient.value : ''}
+  </div>
+
   {#if showNotes}
     <div class="notes-editor">
       <textarea
@@ -185,15 +190,6 @@
     justify-content: center;
   }
 
-  .gradient-row.focused .bar-container {
-    width: 100%;
-  }
-
-  .gradient-row.focused .bar {
-    width: 100%;
-    min-width: 0;
-  }
-
   .term {
     text-align: center;
     font-size: 0.9rem;
@@ -207,37 +203,79 @@
     text-align: left;
   }
 
+  /* The bar is always centered within its container, on every screen size. */
   .bar-container {
     display: flex;
     justify-content: center;
   }
 
-  .bar {
+  .scale {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: stretch;
     font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;
     font-size: 1.8rem;
-    white-space: nowrap;
+    line-height: 1;
-    letter-spacing: 0.2rem;
-    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
-    cursor: pointer;
     user-select: none;
-    min-width: 240px;
+    padding: 0.25rem 0.4rem;
-    text-align: center;
+    border: 2px solid transparent;
-    background-color: var(--bg-color);
+    border-radius: 3px;
-    color: var(--fg-color);
-    border: 2px solid var(--border-color);
-    transition: border-color 0.2s;
   }
 
-  .bar:hover {
+  .scale:focus-visible {
+    outline: none;
     border-color: var(--hover-color);
-    background-color: var(--bg-color);
-    color: var(--fg-color);
   }
 
-  .bar:active {
+  .bracket {
-    background-color: var(--input-bg);
+    display: flex;
-    border-color: var(--fg-color);
+    align-items: center;
+    opacity: 0.45;
+  }
+
+  .cell {
+    font-family: inherit;
+    font-size: inherit;
+    line-height: 1;
+    background: transparent;
     color: var(--fg-color);
+    border: none;
+    padding: 0.35rem 0.3rem;
+    min-width: auto;
+    min-height: auto;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    transition: opacity 0.15s, color 0.15s;
+  }
+
+  /* Opacity tiers reinforce the gradient feel: faint track, brighter
+     fill, fully solid marker. */
+  .cell.empty {
+    opacity: 0.35;
+  }
+
+  .cell.center {
+    opacity: 0.55;
+  }
+
+  .cell.fill {
+    opacity: 0.75;
+  }
+
+  .cell.marker {
+    opacity: 1;
+    font-weight: bold;
+  }
+
+  .cell:hover {
+    opacity: 1;
+    color: var(--hover-color);
+    background: transparent;
+  }
+
+  .value-display {
+    text-align: center;
+    margin-top: 0.75rem;
+    font-size: 0.9rem;
+    color: #888888;
   }
 
   .controls {
@@ -336,10 +374,15 @@
       grid-row: 3;
     }
 
-    .bar {
+    .scale {
-      font-size: 1.4rem;
+      font-size: 1.5rem;
-      min-width: 200px;
+      padding: 0.25rem 0.2rem;
-      padding: 0.5rem;
+    }
+
+    /* Slim horizontal padding keeps the full track inside narrow
+       viewports; vertical padding preserves a tall tap target. */
+    .cell {
+      padding: 0.5rem 0.2rem;
     }
   }
 </style>

bicorder-app/src/components/Landing.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,216 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { createEventDispatcher, onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
+  import { fade } from 'svelte/transition';
+
+  const dispatch = createEventDispatcher<{ begin: void; about: void }>();
+
+  // A deliberately wide-ranging list — traffic, code, kitchens, ritual,
+  // governance, play — to show how capacious "protocol" really is.
+  const examples = [
+    'a four-way stop',
+    'tipping at a restaurant',
+    "Robert's Rules of Order",
+    'a sourdough starter passed between neighbors',
+    'code review on a pull request',
+    'a Quaker meeting for worship',
+    'queuing for the bus',
+    'how Wikipedia settles an edit war',
+    'a family holiday gift exchange',
+    'the handshake',
+    'academic peer review',
+    'trick-or-treating',
+    'a potluck dinner',
+    'jury deliberation',
+    "a city's recycling rules",
+    'an open-source contributor guide',
+  ];
+
+  let idx = 0;
+  let timer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval>;
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    timer = setInterval(() => {
+      idx = (idx + 1) % examples.length;
+    }, 2400);
+  });
+
+  onDestroy(() => clearInterval(timer));
+</script>
+
+<div class="landing">
+  <div class="title-block">
+    <div class="title-sm">Protocol</div>
+    <div class="title-lg">BICORDER</div>
+    <div class="motif" aria-hidden="true">[----#----]</div>
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="scan">
+    <span class="scan-label">Examine the protocols around you</span>
+    <span class="scan-example">
+      {#key idx}
+        <span in:fade={{ duration: 350 }}>{examples[idx]}</span>
+      {/key}
+    </span>
+  </div>
+
+  <button class="begin-btn" on:click={() => dispatch('begin')}>
+    Begin &rarr;
+  </button>
+
+  <ol class="steps">
+    <li>
+      <span class="step-n">1</span>
+      <span class="step-text"><strong>Describe</strong> a protocol around you</span>
+    </li>
+    <li>
+      <span class="step-n">2</span>
+      <span class="step-text"><strong>Understand</strong> how it works</span>
+    </li>
+    <li>
+      <span class="step-n">3</span>
+      <span class="step-text"><strong>Share</strong> your findings</span>
+    </li>
+  </ol>
+
+  <button class="about-link" on:click={() => dispatch('about')}>
+    About the Bicorder
+  </button>
+</div>
+
+<style>
+  .landing {
+    min-height: 100vh;
+    max-width: 640px;
+    margin: 0 auto;
+    padding: 2rem 1.5rem;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    text-align: center;
+    gap: 2rem;
+  }
+
+  .title-block {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+  }
+
+  .title-sm {
+    font-size: 1.1rem;
+    letter-spacing: 0.3rem;
+    opacity: 0.7;
+  }
+
+  .title-lg {
+    font-size: 2.4rem;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    letter-spacing: 0.4rem;
+  }
+
+  .motif {
+    font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;
+    font-size: 1.2rem;
+    letter-spacing: 0.15rem;
+    opacity: 0.4;
+    margin-top: 0.75rem;
+  }
+
+  .scan {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    gap: 0.6rem;
+  }
+
+  .scan-label {
+    font-size: 1.4rem;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    line-height: 1.4;
+  }
+
+  .scan-example {
+    /* Reserve space for up to two wrapped lines so the rotating example
+       never shifts the steps below it. */
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    justify-content: center;
+    min-height: 3.2rem;
+    font-size: 1.2rem;
+    opacity: 0.85;
+  }
+
+  .steps {
+    list-style: none;
+    margin: 0;
+    padding: 0;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    gap: 0.85rem;
+    text-align: left;
+  }
+
+  .steps li {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 0.85rem;
+    font-size: 1.05rem;
+  }
+
+  .step-n {
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    width: 1.9rem;
+    height: 1.9rem;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    border: 2px solid var(--border-color);
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    font-size: 0.95rem;
+  }
+
+  .step-text {
+    opacity: 0.9;
+  }
+
+  .begin-btn {
+    font-size: 1.15rem;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    letter-spacing: 0.1rem;
+    padding: 0.85rem 2.5rem;
+  }
+
+  .about-link {
+    background: none;
+    border: none;
+    min-height: auto;
+    min-width: auto;
+    padding: 0;
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+    text-decoration: underline;
+    opacity: 0.55;
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+
+  .about-link:hover {
+    opacity: 0.9;
+    background: none;
+    color: var(--fg-color);
+  }
+
+  @media (max-width: 768px) {
+    .landing {
+      gap: 1.5rem;
+      padding: 1.5rem 1.25rem;
+    }
+
+    .title-lg {
+      font-size: 2rem;
+    }
+
+    .scan-label {
+      font-size: 1.2rem;
+    }
+  }
+</style>

bicorder-app/src/components/MetadataFields.svelte

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
     <input
       id="protocol"
       type="text"
-      placeholder="[Protocol]"
+      placeholder="What protocol are you analyzing?"
       value={metadata.protocol || ''}
       on:input={(e) => handleInput('protocol', e.currentTarget.value)}
     />
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
     <label for="description">Description:</label>
     <textarea
       id="description"
-      placeholder="[Description]"
+      placeholder="Briefly, what is this protocol?"
       value={metadata.description || ''}
       on:input={(e) => handleInput('description', e.currentTarget.value)}
       rows="3"
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
     <input
       id="analyst"
       type="text"
-      placeholder="[Analyst]"
+      placeholder="How do you identify yourself?"
       value={metadata.analyst || ''}
       on:input={(e) => handleInput('analyst', e.currentTarget.value)}
     />
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
     <input
       id="standpoint"
       type="text"
-      placeholder="[Standpoint]"
+      placeholder="What is your relationship to the protocol?"
       value={metadata.standpoint || ''}
       on:input={(e) => handleInput('standpoint', e.currentTarget.value)}
     />