Re: Mind maps: an object lesson

[Keith Hood <klhra -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

I use a product called Freemind and it comes in handy
in some ways.

I like the way it lets me highlight things so that
reading the map is quicker and easier than scrolling
down in an outline to find things of particular
interest. It's must better for quick understanding of
the divisions and how topic levels are nested. In a
large project with several documents involved, or in a
really long and involved document, this is especially
useful.

One thing I don't like about it: it's actually more
difficult to cut a level or structure and move it
elsewhere. The outlining feature in Word is easier.


--- John Hedtke <john -at- hedtke -dot- com> wrote:

> I use mind maps for a number of things, usually in
> the earliest 
> design stages of an article or a book.  They're very
> useful for 
> making s8ure I get down EVERYTHING I might want to
> talk about.  After 
> that, I use the information gathered to move to an
> outline and I work 
> from the outline for the rest of the project.
> 
> But I have never used mind-mapping software.  I know
> it exists; it 
> just seems to undercut the value of mind-mapping
> (fast, 
> stream-of-consciousness creativity exercises that
> let you sketch 
> concepts quickly) and forces you to do the same
> creative dance 
> wearing lead boots.
> 
> Yours truly,
> 
> John Hedtke
> Author/Consultant/Contract Writer
> www.hedtke.com <-- website
> 541-685-5000 (office landline)
> 541-554-2189 (cell)
> john -at- hedtke -dot- com (primary email)
> johnhedtke -at- aol -dot- com (secondary email)
> 
> 
> 
> At 08:53 AM 10/31/2007, Susan Hogarth wrote:
> >The lesson is:
> >
> >Just because you HAVE software that makes cool
> branching multi-colored
> >pictures, does NOT mean you need to USE that
> software when a simple
> >outline would suffice and, frankly, be superior.
> >
> >Yes, I'm kvetching.
> >
> >Do folks here have much use for these things? I
> guess i am at heart a
> >hierarchical thinker, and they give me the spins.
> >
> >--
> >Susan Hogarth
> >http://www.colliething.com
>
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