This is the good news..
Finally, we can be like Leonardo da Vinci in a small way. No, we're not getting the polymatic superpowers from him..
His penchant for free-flowing note taking that filled notebooks with diagrams and doodles is more attainable. Perhaps he knew that the human brain likes images more than words. Perhaps connecting words and images made him see things that most couldn't.
Today, we call these brain cells as intertwinings mind maps .
It is the most popular brainstorming technique of all. Count the hits on Google if you don't believe me. Check the number of books British psychologist Tony Buzan wrote to promote it. A small 140.
For a student, a mind map is a memory aid for reviewing notes. For an office worker, a mind map can be a solo or collaborative brainstorming tool. Brainstorming groups at work use mind mapping techniques for problem solving and decision making. Do you want to develop an agenda for an annual conference or plan your time as a manager? Perhaps a mind mapped SWOT analysis can help spot a weakness or an opportunity?
You can apply a mind map to any office setting.
Choose from many great mind mapping sites 5 Mind Map Sites and Apps to Brainstorm New Mind Map Sites and Apps to Generate New Ideas A mind map is the best way to organize ideas that pop up in your brain. These mind mapping apps will help you go digital. Learn more and brainstorm in web apps 8 App Layout for Better Brainstorming on the Go 8 App Layout for Better Brainstorming on the Go Life can be busy and chaotic. These mind mapping and brainstorming apps can help you keep track of your inspirations and ideas for a better thought process. All just a screen tap away. Read More But how should you choose the right tool that won't confuse you? By keeping your needs front and center, here are some standout features to look out for:
We've covered a lot of mind mapping tools here at MakeUseOf. You may have discarded some and decided to keep one. FreeMind, XMind and MindJet are popular. Since not every tool will check every box, here are a few more mind mapping tools to consider.
Platforms: Web, Chrome
This Mind Map Chrome Extension Catches Your Best Thoughts With 10 Note-Taking Chrome Extensions Catch Your Best Thoughts With 10 Note-Taking Chrome Extensions Notes are the simplest self-management tools. With information overload on your mind, use these ten extensions to jot down quick notes, manage them better, or simply share them with others. Read More Use it in the browser instead of installing it in Chrome. Coggle saves your work in the browser too. Coggle comes in three flavors:Free, Awesome, and Organization.
The free version allows you to create unlimited maps, so it should be good enough for your needs. The commercial versions come with features like unlimited private presentation modes and mind maps.
Notable features:
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS
MindMapple (ver. 1.71) is a desktop and iOS app that offers free and professional versions. The ribbon interface should be familiar.
MindMapple is preloaded with themes and templates. Visual thinkers will like the software because it allows the use of images and clip art. Select any theme on your mind map and use the clip art library to add appropriate graphics. Cloud sharing via Google Drive is a key feature of the beta, but is not functional due to API changes.
MindMapple has a powerful set of features to handle larger projects. Multiple mind maps can be grouped in one document. You can keep track of topics with priority and schedules, which is essential for project management. The Fool Proof System for Planning and Managing Multiple Projects The Fool Proof System for Planning and Managing Multiple Projects Complete Horizon Planning is an easy system to manage multiple active and inactive projects. It's incredibly unbreakable when it comes to those guaranteed daily distractions. We show you how to set it up digitally. Read more.
I would Definitely recommend MindMapple For your integrity. The Pro version gives you advanced features like PDF export, password security, and advanced Microsoft Office export.
Notable features:
Platforms: cross platform
NovaMind is a cross-platform brainstorming software. Try it on Windows desktop, Windows 8, iPad, Mac OS X or Android, and online as NovaMind Cloud. It is a commercial software but has a capable free version. NovaMind starts with an interactive tutorial to introduce the basics. A demo mind map is built as the tutorial progresses.
The app has a useful layout engine that helps you design quickly, as themes cannot be overlaid on top of each other. A single user friendly “dial” contains all mind mapping commands.
The Lite version is useful for testing the software. It suffers because it doesn't offer options to save or export mind maps in different formats.
Notable features:
Platform: Web
Text2Mindmap is one of my favorites for one reason:speed. As its name suggests, the online tool allows you to leave your thoughts as a text list. Each line of text will become a node on the mind map. An indentation (with a press of the TAB key) in the list results in a new branch of nodes.
Text2Mindmap is free for this core purpose. Mini ($5/Month), Standard ($9/Month), and Pro ($11/Month) subscriptions open up more features, such as private accounts, more map storage, and ad-free mind map printing.
Notable features:
Platform: Windows
Blumind is three things that everyone loves:powerful, portable and free. The download is less than 1MB. Within that small portability factor, Bluemind doesn't include many alarms. But it has all the basics for simple mind maps.
In addition to mind maps, you can also use free software to create organization charts, logic diagrams, and tree diagrams. The software has a tabbed interface. You can import existing mind maps from FreeMind. Import from Excel spreadsheets is also available.
Blumind also has an internal timer. That's handy for using a timed constraint for your brainstorming sessions. I'd like to vouch for Bluemind, if you're looking for a simple portable mind mapping alternative.
Notable features:
Platforms: Web, Chrome
Sketchboard is more of a collaborative whiteboard than a dedicated mind mapping program. But whiteboards are vital for collaborative brainstorming The 6 Best Free Online Meeting Tools To Collaborate With Your Team The 6 Best Free Online Meeting Tools To Collaborate With Your Team Small teams don't need expensive business apps for collaboration. collaboration. Here are six great tools you can use to manage your team's data, communication, and more. Free. Read More
You can also integrate Sketchboard with team tools like Slack, Google Drive, HipChat, GitHub, and FlowDock. Take a look at the Sketchboard user gallery to see some examples.
Like most mind mapping tools, Sketchboard.io also comes with a choice of free and paid plans. The free plan is for 5 users.
Notable features:
Platforms: Windows, Mac, OSX, Linux
The Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) is an open source project at Tufts University. The latest version of the software was released in October this year. The cross-platform mind mapping program is designed for teaching, learning, and research.
But you can reuse it according to your ideation needs. For example, VUE handles complex maps well. An outline The window is just what concept maps that get too complex need.
In the screenshot example above, Eva Gladek of Except Integrated Systainability uses VUE to create system maps of production processes.
Notable features:
Platform: Web
Start mind mapping without login with this free online app. WiseMapping takes minutes to master. It works in all modern browsers as it uses vector graphics and HTML5 to render mind maps.
You can start using it without signing in. But without an account, you can create only one mind map and when you exit the program, your mind map will not be saved.
Notable features:
This article is about the lesser known, but capable programs out there. Look what's come before.
We've covered mind mapping apps for the iPad Mind Maps on iPhone and iPad:Here's Your Options Mind Maps on iPhone and iPad:Here's Your Options Whether you're using an iPhone or iPad, these mind mapping tools Mindsets can keep your thoughts flowing on the go. Read More and Mind Map Apps for Mac 6 Free Mind Map Apps for Mac to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing 6 Free Mind Map Apps for Mac to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing Looking for the best mind mapping apps for Mac? Here are some great free mind mapping tools to help you organize your thoughts about macOS. Read more.
We've also redesigned Microsoft Word as an effective mind mapping tool. How to build a mind map in Microsoft Word. How to build a mind map in Microsoft Word. The average person has thousands of thoughts each day. Our brainstorms are rarely strategic. A mind map helps you capture a bunch of thoughts and put them in order. We show you how. Read more.
Before choosing the right software, you need to decide its role in your workflow. Perhaps asking yourself these questions will help.
Their answers will help you compare the best fit for the job. If your needs are broad and system-wide, then a business powerhouse like MindMeister or MindJet works best. If you're already on Windows 10 and not looking for that elephant gun, but something simple:choosing M8 will save you a lot of hassle.
Remember, it's as much about elimination as it is about selection.
If mind mapping doesn't cut it, you could try schematics instead. Take a look at these 5 Mac users to help you organize your thoughts.
Do you use mind maps in the office or for personal brainstorming needs? What is the software you would recommend? Or do you feel like the humble pen and paper is the best bet for those intangible cognitive benefits? Pour your heart out in the comments.
