Mind Mapping

Related link: http://www.mindjet.com/us/

Hobie Swan from MindJet Software kicked off this morning's Gnomedex with a demo of Mind Manager, a really cool mind mapping application. He demoed the software on a tablet PC, which is exactly how it should be used, because it enables quick gestures to add and organize the mind map, as well as drawings that can be added to the mind map directly. This is a big advantage over software such as Free Mind (a rockin' open source Java mind mapping application) which doesn't support the pen tablet or drawings, although it does support images.

For those not familiar with mind maps, they are a visual technique for generating ideas and enhancing creativity. Developed by Tony Buzan, mind maps are great for brainstorming because they take advantage of the "right brain" creativity by using non-linear ideas, and graphics and drawings. When you write a text-only, top-down outline, your brain is in logical "left brain" mode. Opening up your idea generation to allow ideas to sprout in any direction, and to feel free to add color and drawings gets your creative juices flowing.

I use mind maps extensively in creative endeavors, including planning out and generating ideas for Head First books. So does my friend and co-author, Kathy Sierra. She blogged about this software recently after she saw a demo of Mind Manager on a tablet PC at ETech 2005. She said it almost convinced her to buy... gasp... a Windows machine just so she could mind map with a tablet and with pictures.

Good news - she doesn't have to! Hobie revealed that yes, MindJet is working on a Mac version of Mind Manager (yay!). So if we can just convince Steve Jobs to develop iTablet, we'll be set. In the mean time, I'll have my Wacom tablet next to my iBook, ready to go.

gnomedex

Do you use mind maps?