(Originally posted on LiveJournal)
So I got this email today from a software supplier I’ve used in the past. One of those “new product” promotional emails. I didn’t mind that – I had after all indicated I was willing to receive such emails.
This was for a mind-mapping software program.
What? Mind-mapping? What’s that?
I had not run across this previously, and so set out on a hunt to find out what the heck it was this was talking about. Especially since the product the email was about was version FIVE from this company.
What I found was both intriguing and baffling. I sort of get it — being able to create branching trees of ideas, so that you can look at it graphically. Outlines with boxes and ovals for sub-thoughts, and lines showing connections. Okay. But how to make it work? So far, the explanation videos I’ve found are heavily loaded with the theoretical term lables for thought patterns: “data”, “information”, “knowledge”, “wisdom” and on to creativity. But nowhere have I found after the theoretical explanation a sample example of it in process. I was really, really ready for a follow-up to the explanation of: “For example – if you were trying to sort information about medieval coins, their metals, distribution, designs, distribution, here is how you would arrange all these things.” A practical example of your “wonderful tool” would be really great, especially for the newbie who stumbles across the thing.
It’s something I run across more and more these days, the in-jargon of a particular arena. It doesn’t even matter what sort of arena it is, it happens everywhere. Communities develop their own “in-group” references that can baffle an outsider who enters in. And very few people think to offer translations that will help a newbie/outsider quickly get into the flow.
So, after an hour of nibbling at the edges of this thing called “mind-mapping”, I’m left mildly intrigued, but not convinced or wowed. Why do I need this again? I have Writers Blocks which lets me build all sorts of things for conceptual organization. I’ve had one version or the other (actually versions 1 and 3) for the better part of 10 years. I use it for outlining now. I use it for storing story ideas for scripts and novels. I use it for keeping all sorts of records (like all the keys to various websites I have to log in to access). I use it for keeping track of the world-building information for my fantasy world (the characters, the races, the places, the events, the time line, and the outlines for various stories). It seems to me that I already do a version of mind-mapping with this computerized file-card program.
But having encountered this new thing, it’s tickling the back of my mind like a new toy.
Good thing I’m taking a hiatus from spending money much right now. ‘Cause I probably don’t need it.
But is there anyone out there who does know more about mind-mapping, who is willing to give me a better idea of what it is and why I might need it? I’m sort of willing to be persuaded, if I could be convinced it’s a better way of doing things than I’ve got right now.
😀
Comments
muuranker –Â Feb. 25th, 2010
But is there anyone out there who does know more about mind-mapping, who is willing to give me a better idea of what it is and why I might need it? I’m sort of willing to be persuaded, if I could be convinced it’s a better way of doing things than I’ve got right now.
Doing things? Doing what???
I am using mind maps as a way of note-taking, and as a way of storing/communicating information – here, for example, is the beginning of a map storing/communicating to other students the key data about a supermarket chain: https://www.mindmeister.com/maps/show/40678840
They are sort-of like a family tree of thought. You build them partly because when finished they (like a summary of an article) it is useful in itself) and partly because the process of building them (as in preparing a summary) is a useful mental exercise. Don’t get led astray by the example – they summarise, but are not a summary.
Rather than shell out $$$, I suggest you download something like freeplane, and play with it. Put ‘hero’ in the middle, and see what you come up with it.
The reasons why mind-mapping are ‘good’
– its non-linear.
– its like one-person brainstorming
– its a way of cloud brainstorming (the ‘don’t critically review until phase 2’ rule comes into play)
Hope that helps!
scribblerworks – Feb. 26th, 2010
Thanks for this response! It is helpful.
Unfortunately, the website won’t let me see the specific example you linked to. Apparently I not only have to register with the website, I have to be socially connected with that person. *sigh* But your explanation with the previous description does make it clearer.
Now I’ve got something to think about. 😀
kalimac – Feb. 25th, 2010
Computer people, and perhaps other people, can be like that. I once had a job interview at a high-tech startup firm, at the end of which I still had no idea what I would be doing, or for whom, or how it fit in to the larger picture. I can only work within context, so I had to decline. They looked thunderstruck: apparently I was the first person they’d ever interviewed who found this a problem.
scribblerworks – Feb. 26th, 2010
This makes me chuckle. It’s sad but true!
And you, of course, are an unusual person, since you preferred to actually know what the job was, rather than just take it and fake it. One of the things I like and admire about you.
sartorias – Feb. 25th, 2010
Sounds like high tech cat vacuuming to me!
scribblerworks – Feb. 26th, 2010
Just when you want to be an octopus, so you can hold the cat AND the vacuum! 😀
dewline – Feb. 26th, 2010
And you already need both of your human hands for the vacuum, depending on what make and model you’re using!
dewline – Feb. 26th, 2010
As noted by others…
There are freeware versions of this sort of thing available around the Net, if you’re of a mind to experiment with it in any case.
I can’t argue for or agin it right now myself. muuranker makes the “for” side of the case well enough, though.
scribblerworks – Feb. 26th, 2010
Re: As noted by others…
Yes, I’m thinking of giving the freeware versions a try. The email was for NovaMind – which does seem more adaptable. But it’s a much better idea to get some sense of the general nature of that type of program before spending money.
