CSC – Travel Board Variant¶
A reduced Cognitive Signal Chain configuration for constrained energy, time, or context
1. Purpose¶
This document defines the Travel Board: a deliberately minimal variant of the Cognitive Signal Chain (CSC).
Its purpose is to:
- preserve cognitive integrity under constraints
- prevent all‑or‑nothing use of CSC
- formalize “good enough” rigor for real conditions
The Travel Board is not a shortcut to skip thinking; it is a constrained instrument.
2. Design Principle¶
When resources are limited, constraint matters more than completeness.
The Travel Board prioritizes:
- mode clarity over depth
- early error prevention over full validation
- momentum without self‑deception
3. When to Use the Travel Board¶
Use the Travel Board when:
- energy or attention is low
- time is sharply limited
- the work is exploratory but consequential
- full CSC would introduce friction that stops progress
Do not use it when:
- designing systems for publication
- stakes are high or long‑term
- others will rely on the output
4. Travel Board Configuration¶
Standard Travel Board¶
[Assumption Excavator GPT]
↓
[System Design Lens GPT]
This is the minimal viable CSC.
5. Rationale for Pedal Selection¶
Why Assumption Excavator GPT¶
- surfaces hidden premises quickly
- prevents unconscious constraint hardening
- requires low exploratory overhead
Why System Design Lens GPT¶
- enforces problem framing
- forces explicit decisions and constraints
- produces inspectable artifacts
Together, these pedals:
- block the most dangerous failure modes
- maintain structural honesty
6. Explicit Bypasses¶
The Travel Board explicitly bypasses:
-
Sensemaking GPT Risk accepted: missing emergent patterns
-
Red Team / Misuse GPT Risk accepted: untested failure modes
-
Translation GPT Risk accepted: poor external communication
These risks must be acknowledged when using the Travel Board.
7. Expected Artifacts¶
The Travel Board should still produce:
- explicit assumption lists
- a clearly framed system or decision model
- at least one declared constraint
If no artifact exists, the Travel Board was not properly used.
8. Common Misuse Patterns¶
The Travel Board is misused when:
- treated as the default CSC mode
- used repeatedly without escalation
- outputs are published without full CSC
Common anti‑pattern:
Permanently living on the Travel Board.
9. Escalation Rules¶
Escalate from the Travel Board to full CSC when:
- uncertainty increases instead of decreases
- assumptions feel shaky
- the system shows signs of reuse
- someone else will depend on the output
Escalation usually starts by adding Sensemaking GPT or Red Team / Misuse GPT.
10. Relationship to CSC¶
The Travel Board:
- is a sanctioned CSC variant
- obeys all pedal interface rules
- preserves the non‑negotiable single‑mode constraint
CSC relies on the Travel Board to remain usable in the real world.
End of CSC Travel Board Variant.