# 27-Bit Digital research checkpoint

Identity: kai (Kaigani Turner), project 21, original V1 contract 0xa7d8d9ef8d8ce8992df33d8b8cf4aebabd5bd270. Curated, 1,024 works. Current record label NIFTY License, null terms URL. Native js@na, no external drawing library evident in complete 3,937-character script.

Sources read:
- https://www.artblocks.io/collection/27-bit-digital-by-kai
- https://www.artblocks.io/articles/in-conversation-with-kaigani-turner-kai (Jeff Davis, 17 February 2021). Artist describes autobiographical home-computing constraints, background in computer science, interest in emergent glyph recognition. Keep derived prose within 200 words for this source.
- https://kaigani.medium.com/deciphering-27-bit-digital-2af5b4e7cb71 (19 February 2021). Contemporary launch announcement 19 February 9am PST / 5pm GMT. Pattern twelve bits, glyph seven, resolution eight. Labels are interpretations of random results. Keep derived prose within 200 words; use independently inspected script for technical detail.
- https://kaigani.medium.com/when-retro-graphics-werent-retro-f8c99f140c3f (15 February 2021). Childhood electronics, Apple IIe colour patterns, RGB observation, 2014 LowRezJam Zombie Sniper, later VGA Pattern tool. Read in full, use under 200 derived words. Links to VGA Pattern and later physical edition may supply further source-led context if needed.
- Legacy Cent interview URL returned no readable body; migrated Art Blocks interview is readable. Medium influences page initially timed out then loaded.

Complete indexed script read, not independently executed. window load calls init once, canvas dimensions from body. Last seven hex hash characters parsed (28 available bits), masks consume 27 bits. Low twelve choose four 3-bit RGB colours in 2x2 repeating pattern; next seven choose segment mask; next eight resolution. Resolution branch: all eight bits equal 1 gives exponent5, otherwise low four equal1 gives exponent3, else4. Do not call uniform resolution distribution. Outer square min canvas dimensions grey #C4CDD5; inner square largest power of two not exceeding outer size, centred by floor offset. Pattern scale 2^rSeed times innerSize/2048. At other viewing sizes these are scaled units, not necessarily physical 8/16/32 pixels.

Seven-segment white glyph drawn from packed integer sprite rows, transformed into horizontal/vertical bars according to mask. Each bit of sprite row controls a square. The segments are predefined drawing primitives, not a font library. Metadata function separately classifies mask and pattern into labels (Ghost, Glitch, Alphabetic, Numeric, Alphanumeric, Lucky8, OTTO; solid, bars, checkerboard etc). No animation loop, pointer controls or resize listener in inspected artist script. Static rendering must be viewed and checked at actual dimensions before drafting visual claims.

Index: first 17 February 2021 14:11:53; activation 19 February 15:35:35; second/start 16:59:41; complete17:18:42. Price setting0.064ETH, not originalprice evidence. Artist launch announcement establishes intended public time but does not classify individual purchases or prove exact sellout duration. Original maximum, opening price and operative licence text unresolved.

Cached script and four token records (0,1,10,20) in .ab500-cache/series-expansion/27-bit-digital-by-kai/. At the initial checkpoint, visual inspection and drafting were pending; completed observations follow below.


Visual inspection completed for the four official previews at 512 pixels each. All have the indexed VGA resolution label. #0 has an ambiguous four-segment figure; #1 resembles P; #10 has two left uprights; #20 two right uprights. Colour names checked against the selected hash bits where useful, separately from perceptual description. AB5D #722 owner freshly confirmed; canonical renderer viewed, with its static three-segment glyph and bright patterned field. Canonical rendering at a non-square viewport places the grey square to the left; preview presentation uses the official square image. No animation or interaction is claimed. Nine materially cited references. Historical price, allocation and licence text remain unresolved.