MindManager Mind Mapping Software
Are you stuck in a creative rut, either as an individual or as a team? Does your linear thinking stifle your capability to come up with breakthrough ideas?
Unleash your creativity using a concept called “mind mapping.” Around since the 1960s, the concept of mind mapping utilizes several elements within the brain to stimulate more creative thinking. Mind maps combine words, images, colors, numbers, logic and graphical relationships to encourage non-linear, visual approaches to thinking and solving problems. The Mind Map Book by Tony and Barry Buzan (see our review) explains the scientific reasoning behind the approach, and provides examples of how mind mapping can be used for different purposes.
Until a few years ago, mind mapping was just a curiosity to me. For those (like me) who are artistically challenged, a graphical approach to thinking presents some challenges when those graphics must be hand-drawn. Moreover, hand drawings are very difficult to modify; adding content to a mind map generally requires squeezing in the new information using teeny-tiny print. Finally, for a person like me who likes to store (and back up) every piece of information electronically, hand-drawn mind maps don’t fit well into my filing methodology.
MindManager – developed by a company called Mindjet – eliminates all of the shortcomings of hand-drawn mind maps, and provides capabilities that extend mind mapping way beyond what could be done by hand.
Most often, I use MindManager to brainstorm ideas. Simply type the central concept that you are trying to brainstorm and add your “first level” ideas by inserting branches that emanate from the main idea. Need to go into more detail on one of your “first level” ideas? No problem. You can add “second level” ideas by inserting branches (using the Insert key) that emanate from your “first level” ideas, then add “third level” ideas that emanate from your “second level” ideas, and so on.
Unlike hand-drawn mind maps, MindManager automatically adjusts the mind map when you add new branches or move branches around. You can quickly add a symbol to provide visual and mnemonic impact. You can also use colors and “branch relationship” arrows to highlight linkages between ideas and shared themes.
MindManager goes way beyond simply automating the creation of simple mind maps by harnessing the power of the PC and the internet. With MindManager you can:
- Hyperlink to any object that has been captured electronically (e.g., documents, images, Web sites, and email), including other mind maps (to create multi-maps).
- Export the mind map to several Microsoft applications like Word, Powerpoint and Project. For example, a project team could create a mind map project plan and export it into Microsoft Project.
- Attach detailed text notes to a particular branch so that you can capture detailed information without cluttering up the main mind map.
- Filter the branches that you want to show and work on. For example, you could choose to only show all branches that you have colored green. Or you could choose to only show the first two branch levels.
- Work on a shared mind map over a network or the internet through built-in web conferencing.
You can purchase MindManager Basic for about $230 at http://www.mindjet.com/. It’s a great way to brainstorm ideas, articles, presentations and any other activities that require you to organize your thoughts.