A picture is worth a thousand words — and sometimes even a thousand words aren’t enough to get a point across. An awful lot of discourse in our culture is text based — blogging, twitter, text messaging, email, most powerpoints, white papers, check lists — all text based. But text is not the only way to organize and explain ideas.
At the systems thinking workshop I recently attended diagramming is a major part of the process. The systems diagrams are effective ways to visualize systems. And the process itself really helps direct the thought process, whether as an individual or in a group. A couple of years ago, after attending an Edward Tufte workshop I tried out a different visual take on the standard organization chart.
Strange as it is at first glance, it is still in use and well received. The only problem is we’ve added a number of staff and I’ve been asked to figure out how to re-design it to meet the expanded org chart.
I’ve played with mind mapping on and off in the past. It seems like a useful way to organize and present ideas. I just picked up a copy of Tony Buzan’s The Mind Map book, got some colored pens, and am working my way through the book’s examples. One of the essential ideas is standard linear outlining limits your ability to brainstorm. Focusing on keywords, visual relationships, color coding, images, and other techniques of mind mapping help with information retention and idea generation. My first task is to mind map our upcoming visit to London. It will take some time before I really internalize the concepts and get a sense of whether this will really work for me. But it sounds promising.
Mind Maps How to Mind Map – Buzan World
What is a Mind Map? A Mind Map is a powerful graphic technique which provides a universal key to unlock the potential of the brain. It harnesses the full range of cortical skills – word, image, number, logic, rhythm, colour and spatial awareness – in a single, uniquely powerful manner. In so doing, it gives you the freedom to roam the infinite expanses of your brain. The Mind Map can be applied to every aspect of life where improved learning and clearer thinking will enhance human performance.
An updated version of MindBerry – a mind mapping application for the BlackBerry platform – was recently released that fully supports the BlackBerry Storm smartphone. It takes full advantage of the Storm’s large touch screen.
Mind mapping for BlackBerry | MindBerry
MindBerry is a mind-mapping software for BlackBerry smartphones. It’s the ideal software for organize your thoughts, manage information overload, increase your productivity and creativity. Capture and organize your ideas at any moment, do it visually with MindBerry. You can export the mindmap to FreeMind format and transfer it to your desktop for continue use.
Main Page – FreeMind – free mind mapping software
FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map) software written in Java. The recent development has hopefully turned it into high productivity tool. We are proud that the operation and navigation of FreeMind is faster than that of MindManager because of one-click “fold / unfold” and “follow link” operations.
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RodeWorks » Blog Archive » Charting the organization on Jan 05 10 at 9:44 am[...] RodeWorks » Blog Archive » Mind Mapping and other visual thinking A couple of years ago, after attending an Edward Tufte workshop I tried out a different visual take on the standard organization chart. [...]
Peter Hess added these pithy words on Jul 01 09 at 10:22 amI’ve never been able to get my head around mind-mapping (or concept mapping) – having tried to grok it since I first learned of it in the ’90s. For me it always turns out to be a more arduous and less effective exercise than other ways of organizing my thoughts. Two possibilities: one, that concept mapping is one of those ideas that sounds pretty but doesn’t pan out when you get down and dirty with it; the other, that it works well for you or not, depending on your cognitive style.
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Randall Rode's online home for thoughts, notes, and experiments with a wide range of technology topics. Visit the about page for info on my recent projects and professional background. I welcome your comments!
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