Mind Maps
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I met a bloke today who was extolling the virtues of Mind Maps. I'm pretty intrigued, but I've read claims on the interweb which sound a bit "new age"ish (unlocking the secrets of the mind, etc. etc. etc.) Do any of you use Mind Maps, are they any use?
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
martin_hughes wrote:
unlocking the secrets of the mind, etc. etc. etc
:rolleyes: We call them "Used Car Salesmen." and this from someone who does actually use mind-maps for all my brainstorming and initial design efforts. What a mind-map is: 1) an Outline. Be honest, it is the outline you learned in Highschool for writing reports. Big items broken into several medium items, each of which are broken into smaller items, each of which are broken into smaller items, until you describe "something" sufficiently to understand it. 2) a tree heirachy with tools to change locations. This performs better than a traditional outline as branchas with children can be moved from one location to another, easily and effciently. Root nodes (supposedly largest group descriptions) can be downgraded to smaller descriptions of a larger task/portion. Similarly root nodes can be promoted easily as larger topics. 3) Easily editable. as with some of the details of #2. A mind map is "sketching" an idea. You don't want the controls too rigid or no one will use it. You can always sketch a mind-map on paper rapidly, and in many cases this is the most efficient way to sketch an idea/process breakdown. The problem with a hand-drawn one is that eventually it gets hard to erase when you are constantly promoting and demoting branches in an initial brain-storm session. This makes pencil more difficult for creative approaches. For descriptive approaches, either is good because less editing is involved. For instance a descriptive approach to finding a Compiler: Write your choices (Visual studio, GNU, others) Write pro and con trees with list of pros and cons of each. Write a "common operation" branch with sub branches of common operations YOU use in writing code, and the methodical process breakdown of how to achieve that in each environment. And any more nodes you see fit. Now with everything laid out, you can examine the whole process at once. But in the end, it is little different than an outline. But an outline is still a good form, my old English teacher would be proud (well, at least Junior year, my senior year one would never allow computers to be used -- typewriters already allowed people to get too lazy). An outline form is a "natural" form, task, subtask, sub-subtask, etc. Thus the advertising like description of mind-maps. Ignore the sales-talk, use them anyway. :) http://www.creativitybootcamp.com/resourc
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Well it's probably worth me taking a punt and getting a book or something; anything to help keep my increasingly complex life in order :) (Note to self: Steal Marc's idea for 3D Mind Mapping tool.)
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
martin_hughes wrote:
Note to self: Steal Marc's idea for 3D Mind Mapping tool
Note to self: invent 4D Mind Mapping, just to out do the Martins of the world. :laugh:
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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martin_hughes wrote:
Note to self: Steal Marc's idea for 3D Mind Mapping tool
Note to self: invent 4D Mind Mapping, just to out do the Martins of the world. :laugh:
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
You'll never out do us; we are invincible! :)
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
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martin_hughes wrote:
Note to self: Steal Marc's idea for 3D Mind Mapping tool
Note to self: invent 4D Mind Mapping, just to out do the Martins of the world. :laugh:
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
You and your 4D obsessions. ;P
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martin_hughes wrote:
unlocking the secrets of the mind, etc. etc. etc
:rolleyes: We call them "Used Car Salesmen." and this from someone who does actually use mind-maps for all my brainstorming and initial design efforts. What a mind-map is: 1) an Outline. Be honest, it is the outline you learned in Highschool for writing reports. Big items broken into several medium items, each of which are broken into smaller items, each of which are broken into smaller items, until you describe "something" sufficiently to understand it. 2) a tree heirachy with tools to change locations. This performs better than a traditional outline as branchas with children can be moved from one location to another, easily and effciently. Root nodes (supposedly largest group descriptions) can be downgraded to smaller descriptions of a larger task/portion. Similarly root nodes can be promoted easily as larger topics. 3) Easily editable. as with some of the details of #2. A mind map is "sketching" an idea. You don't want the controls too rigid or no one will use it. You can always sketch a mind-map on paper rapidly, and in many cases this is the most efficient way to sketch an idea/process breakdown. The problem with a hand-drawn one is that eventually it gets hard to erase when you are constantly promoting and demoting branches in an initial brain-storm session. This makes pencil more difficult for creative approaches. For descriptive approaches, either is good because less editing is involved. For instance a descriptive approach to finding a Compiler: Write your choices (Visual studio, GNU, others) Write pro and con trees with list of pros and cons of each. Write a "common operation" branch with sub branches of common operations YOU use in writing code, and the methodical process breakdown of how to achieve that in each environment. And any more nodes you see fit. Now with everything laid out, you can examine the whole process at once. But in the end, it is little different than an outline. But an outline is still a good form, my old English teacher would be proud (well, at least Junior year, my senior year one would never allow computers to be used -- typewriters already allowed people to get too lazy). An outline form is a "natural" form, task, subtask, sub-subtask, etc. Thus the advertising like description of mind-maps. Ignore the sales-talk, use them anyway. :) http://www.creativitybootcamp.com/resourc
At my school the teachers used to walk behind you and wrap you on the knuckles if they spotted any mistakes, amongst other painful "educational" practices ; I can't remeber any real teaching going on, just fear and intimidation :) It does look like an interesting technique, though, and from what you've said about it, it could be risght up my street!
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
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I met a bloke today who was extolling the virtues of Mind Maps. I'm pretty intrigued, but I've read claims on the interweb which sound a bit "new age"ish (unlocking the secrets of the mind, etc. etc. etc.) Do any of you use Mind Maps, are they any use?
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
in a way i do, its not a bad way to put down everything about a project you can think of, i dont go for different colours and drawing clouds and stick men though, i'm not a business student. also its a handly way to see how things branch out and how one idea leads to another i even have some software free from uni for mind mapping, never gets used though 'Inspiration v7.6' [^] not bad software, but i do my designs on paper and then in visio for the boss/records would be easier to go direct to visio but you cant beat 'Coffee, Paper pad a pencil and a rubber' plus it somehow looks better to people around you... unless your hand writing is as bad as mine.
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Well it's probably worth me taking a punt and getting a book or something; anything to help keep my increasingly complex life in order :) (Note to self: Steal Marc's idea for 3D Mind Mapping tool.)
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
martin_hughes wrote:
(Note to self: Steal Marc's idea for 3D Mind Mapping tool.)
Can't. It's document on CP now. :) BTW, there's a few free ones out there, and the ones that cost $$$ have trial versions. Just download one and give it a try. :) Marc
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I met a bloke today who was extolling the virtues of Mind Maps. I'm pretty intrigued, but I've read claims on the interweb which sound a bit "new age"ish (unlocking the secrets of the mind, etc. etc. etc.) Do any of you use Mind Maps, are they any use?
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
If I'm brainstorming ideas with the team, Mind Maps are invaluable. Mind you, that's the only time I would consider using them.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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You and your 4D obsessions. ;P
David Stone wrote:
You and your 4D obsessions.
yup, temporal relationships are key.... plus you won't be late to your own wedding!
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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I met a bloke today who was extolling the virtues of Mind Maps. I'm pretty intrigued, but I've read claims on the interweb which sound a bit "new age"ish (unlocking the secrets of the mind, etc. etc. etc.) Do any of you use Mind Maps, are they any use?
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
Any time I start a new project or a HUGE re-write, then I use a mind map. I like FreeMind. It's easy and free. The great part of a good mind map software is the ease at which you add nodes. If I recall, Freemind uses the INSERT key. This way, I can do a brain dump with very little thinking about trying to dump my stuff in the right place. INSERT for subnode and ENTER for new node in same branch. Anyway, I think it's great.
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I met a bloke today who was extolling the virtues of Mind Maps. I'm pretty intrigued, but I've read claims on the interweb which sound a bit "new age"ish (unlocking the secrets of the mind, etc. etc. etc.) Do any of you use Mind Maps, are they any use?
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
I use quite a bit. But, I don't think there is anything magical about them. For me they are a nice way to outline and brainstorm.
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
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Well it's probably worth me taking a punt and getting a book or something; anything to help keep my increasingly complex life in order :) (Note to self: Steal Marc's idea for 3D Mind Mapping tool.)
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
Like this one? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Topicscape-3D-mindmap.jpg[^]
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I met a bloke today who was extolling the virtues of Mind Maps. I'm pretty intrigued, but I've read claims on the interweb which sound a bit "new age"ish (unlocking the secrets of the mind, etc. etc. etc.) Do any of you use Mind Maps, are they any use?
"It was the day before today.... I remember it like it was yesterday." -Moleman
> Do any of you use Mind Maps, are they any use? Yeah, I used them most of the time in college to take notes in class. I've always had a habit of trying to get detailed, which is somewhat countered by the need to keep some kind of balance in the mind map. Eventually you get good at guessing what level of detail you're going to go into because if you don't, you get a horribly skewed map :) It's good for seeing the big picture and lower level detail together and in a contextual hierarchy. But you have to know when not to use it - e.g. with really linear or heavily mathematical stuff.
