The systems around us have spent centuries expanding what we're expected to absorb. Writing overcame the physical constraints that held information exchange to folks in the same time and place. Print overcame the limits of replication. The internet promised to remove barriers entirely, with instant transmission and infinite copies. Yet there are still constraints. Humans can't absorb everything all the time. There is a question of information management that pairs with the question of truth. 

Key Question/s: Given our ability to process and form narratives is not infinite, how can civic tech help people take in what matters without drowning? How can we filter and pace information to fit the people using it rather than the volume available?

Alternative title: “The Monkeysphere and the Machine.” There's a bunch of design philosophy we can dive into here. The calm approach. Not overwhelming people with info. Having only the most critical stuff front and center. Then, progressive disclosure and choose-your-own-adventure stuff. Giving people control of their experience a bit. Having been through this a lot in a variety of different product scenarios from e-learning tools to B2C software, I can help fellows develop a clearer sense of how to treat the structure of information as a priority design constraint rather than an afterthought.