← Back to catalogue
Published

flag

vr.tr.flag · thing-q14660

Let an agent handle flags by owner, design, meaning, protocol and signalling use, neutrally and respectfully.

Thing Registry Information and virtual systems INF.MED
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Identity Which flag.

Owner

Country or body.

Owner

Flag identity.

  1. Whose flag is it? provenance
  2. When was it adopted? provenance

Design

Colours and proportions.

Design

Design.

  1. What are its official colours and proportions? provenance
  2. What do the symbols mean? provenance
Protocol Display rules.

Display

Order and position.

Display

Display rules.

  1. How should it be displayed alongside other flags? provenance
  2. When is it flown at half-mast? provenance

Law

Protection.

Law

Legal protection.

  1. Are there legal rules on its use or desecration? boundary
  2. Is commercial use restricted? boundary
Signalling Meaning in use.

Maritime

Signal flags.

Maritime

Maritime signals.

  1. What does this signal flag mean in the International Code of Signals? provenance
  2. Is it a single-flag signal? definition

Safety

Beach and sport.

Safety

Safety flags.

  1. What does this beach or sport flag mean? provenance
  2. What should people do? action
Neutrality Contested flags.

Disputes

Contested symbols.

Disputes

Contested flags.

  1. Is the flag contested or associated with a dispute? boundary
  2. Are positions attributed neutrally? boundary

History

Earlier designs.

History

History.

  1. What earlier designs existed? provenance
  2. Why did they change? provenance

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Information and virtual systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
INF
Domain
INF.MED
Other names and narrower kinds
railway signalling flag, swimming flag, pavilion, maritime flag, corner flag, pilot flag, state ensign, naval ensign, Burgee, bloody flag, admiral flag, diver down flag

What it is Filled

A piece of fabric, usually rectangular, with a distinctive design, used as a symbol or signal, such as national, regional, organisational, maritime signal, sports and safety flags.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle flags by owner, design, meaning, protocol and signalling use, neutrally and respectfully.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Symbolic or signalling fabric
  • Official specifications for many
  • Protocol for display
  • Some are legally protected

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Fly or display a flag in a way that falsely claims nationality, office or status.
  • Misuse maritime or distress signal flags.
  • Deface or desecrate a flag where the law protects it, or mock the people it stands for.
  • Misidentify a flag in a way that attributes an act to the wrong group.

Only with a human decision

  • Choosing flags for official ceremonies or diplomatic events.
  • Raising distress or warning signals at sea.

May

  • Identify a flag and say what it represents, citing official descriptions.
  • Explain flag protocol and signalling meanings in general terms.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Flags carry identity, loyalty and grief for those they represent.
  • False flags have been used to deceive and provoke violence.

Who is affected

  • Communities and nations represented
  • Mariners
  • Officials and the public

Owners Filled

Steward

The issuing authority for official flags; the owner for a physical flag.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q17335294 - registry parent class
  • Q806880 - registry parent class

related

  • banner and symbol - category
  • coat of arms - heraldry
  • vexillology - field
  • signalling - communication

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.flag
  • Wikidata: Q14660 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14660)
  • Wikidata item: per flag instances

Direct properties not applicable Not applicable

Not applicable

Plane INF: no invented physical properties.

Recognition optional Filled

  • Design, colours and proportions
  • Types: national, maritime, sports, signal
  • Beach and swimming flags convey safety messages
  • Fabric with colours and symbols, flown from poles or ropes.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • identify flags and meanings
  • follow flag etiquette and protocol
  • use signal flags correctly
  • reproduce designs accurately

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Wrong colours or proportions
  • Protocol breaches
  • Misreading safety flags

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • National flag laws and protocols
  • International Code of Signals
  • ISO 20712 water safety signs and beach flags

Context of use required Filled

  • Representing identity, signalling and marking.
  • national and regional flags
  • maritime signal flags
  • sports and corner flags
  • safety and beach flags
  • organisational flags

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q14660: flag - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Flag - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should flag types be separate entries?
  • How should official specifications be linked?
  • How should disputed flags be represented?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q14660/spec.json