Principlev1PR-1124
Estimate agent costs in three currencies—time, attention…
Estimate agent costs in three currencies—time, attention, and opportunity—because the attention cost typically exceeds the time cost and determines actual system load.
Why This Is a Principle
Derives from Working Memory Capacity Limit (working memory limits), Directed Attention as Depletable Resource (attention is finite), and Attention as Gate to Conscious Perception (attention is capacity-limited). This prescribes a specific estimation practice that follows from these constraints. The three-currency model is a derived framework for making invisible costs visible.