Mind map applications. IMindMap: the official editor for creating mind maps
There are various ways to record your thoughts or convey them to an audience. You can write, underline and highlight text in different colors, draw, draw tables, diagrams and graphs. The human brain is designed in such a way that it wants to perceive information visually. Psychologists have been thinking about this for a long time and have developed the concept of a mind map, which can also be called a mind map, mind map, etc. (English mind map). Such a connection diagram is based on a central idea, from which a number of branches branch off and continue to diverge further. The central idea can be a question, task, problem or area of knowledge, and the branches can be solutions.
The inventor of the technique is considered to be psychologist Tony Buzan, although, of course, the authorship of the idea cannot be attributed to one person. He wrote a lot of books about the development of thinking and memory, contributing a lot to the popularization of mental maps. And in 2006, under his leadership, mind mapping software called iMindMap was developed. Thus, the technique of visualizing thinking was transferred from paper to a computer, gaining a lot of additional possibilities.
⇡ About the program
iMindMap is far from the only program on the list of mind map editors. And although it is inferior in functionality and prevalence to Mindjet MindManager and ConceptDraw Office MindMap, it is an application with “the most human face.” iMindMap is cross-platform - there are versions for desktop systems Windows, Mac and Linux, and for mobile devices iPhone, iPad and Android, as well as a “cloud” version. The program has a visually pleasing interface and supports the Russian language. It doesn’t take a long time to understand - an untrained user can immediately understand what this technique is. But most importantly, mind maps turn out to be more “live” and interesting than in similar editors, where they have a somewhat scientific appearance. However, it’s better to take a look at the screenshot and decide for yourself which type of cards you like best.
On the left is a map made in iMindMap, on the right is in Mindjet MindManager
The program is available in three editions: Basic, Home&Student and Ultimate, differing in the available functionality. The basic version is free, the educational version costs $67, and the basic version costs $256. There is also a version for mobile devices with access to the “cloud” for $13.99 per year. To get a free edition, you should register on the official ThinkBuzan website. Despite the large number of limitations, you can quite use the main function - creating a map and exporting it as an image.
⇡ Creating a map in the program
iMindMap has a familiar office interface and a Ribbon-style menu design. The open map is displayed in the main information window; on the right there is a panel for inserting additional objects, which can be docked. Switching between maps is done on the tab bar under the main window.
iMindMap Interface
Creating a new map begins with choosing an image for the central idea. If the existing pictures do not suit you, you can open your own. Then change the name of this object and begin to draw branches from it in different directions to any length. From the tips of those branches - new branches, and so on ad infinitum. Each branch is given a name that extends along its length and can be aligned along one side, like text on a page. The shape of the branch can be changed by bending it in different ways at several key points. The location changes in the same way - just grab the branch by the tip and move it to any place, while the other branches will automatically move. Branches at any level can be collapsed and expanded, various actions can be performed on them - delete, cut and paste, recolor, change the font of the name.
Adding new branches
The essence of this process is to find all the options for solving the problem, ways to complete the task, etc. For example, you are going to launch a website - this will be the central idea. One branch will branch off from it: “development”, others – “filling”, “optimization”, “promotion”. From the last branch, in turn, “banner exchange”, “contextual advertising”, “promotion on social networks” will emerge. From “promotion in social networks” - Facebook, VKontakte, Twitter and so on. In this way, all the points related to the implementation of this task will be thought out and clearly presented.
It is worth saying that additional central ideas can be added to the map. The branches extending from it will not intersect with the main tree. This is more of a visual convenience associated with the unlimited nature of the canvas. There is also the ability to create child maps at any part of the branch - in this case, the selected branch will become the central idea from which all subsequent branches will depart.
You can attach various objects to each branch that complement its information value: icons, pictures, notes, audio recordings and links. The icons are divided into groups, each symbolizing something different - a trip, a document, a person, a calendar month. They appear near the tip of the branch, as do the images that are also attached to branches. But notes, audio recordings and links are created and viewed/listened to/opened in the sidebar - only the designating symbol will be visible on the branches. You can attach several different objects: for example, add a screenshot of a website to a thread along with a description and a link to it.
Adding a note to a thread
You can assign objects to branches, or you can add pictures, tables and flowcharts, which are created here using simple editors. These elements will be displayed under the branches, like pictures. You can resize them, unpin them, and drag them to empty space or other branches. Floating text and pictures are also inserted into the empty space to indicate information not tied to the tree. All added objects can be moved to the background and foreground if they overlap each other.
Adding branches is carried out in several modes. You can draw standard branches by hand, giving them any shape - in this case, the number of geometric points can be unlimited. Branches are also inserted with a frame at the end, and the text is placed inside the frame rather than along the length of the entire branch. You can add connections between the branches using arrows - this allows you to visually loop your tree and connect individual elements with each other. True, with a large number of arrows, it becomes difficult to make out where they all lead. A cloud-shaped frame is applied to the branches, which extends to the child branches - but the bad thing is that it is not removed back.
Framing branches
As you place branches on the screen, they can be pinned in place to maintain their shape and location. If you don't want to create the layout manually, there is a "magic" Tidying up function that will automatically arrange your tree, giving it the most compressed look. By the way, compression can be done every time you collapse and delete branches, or generally every time you change the map, if you configure it accordingly in the “SmartLayout Options”. The style of the tree also changes there - the degree of “roundness” of the branches is selected (you can make them completely straight) and their “spreading”, that is, the minimum distance from each other.
Map before and after “cleaning”
If you don't like the color scheme and branch structure of the map, you can choose different tones and tree style (curvature type and line thickness), as well as fonts and background color of the canvas. The card can be given either a strict corporate or a cheerful childish look, and if you like the result, then add the specified style to the standard ones. You can save the entire map as a template. When creating a new card, it is possible to use ready-made educational, personal and business templates.
iMindMap uses its own IMX format to save maps, and allows exporting to many formats: raster and vector images, documents, presentations, web pages, projects, audio recordings, tables, archives and OPML markup. In the free and trial versions, saving is available only in JPEG and PNG formats, but the resolution can be quite high.
⇡ Map display modes
Mind maps in iMindMap can be viewed in different display modes. If you want to show the map to an audience (primarily using a projector), then there are two modes for this: 3D and presentation. The three-dimensional view is quite spectacular, and also allows you to move through the branches interactively.
Displaying the map in 3D
The presentation mode will show you how to create a map step by step. A mouse click brings up the next slide.
Displaying the map as a presentation
In addition, you can view the map in the form of a classic catalog, where instead of branches their names are displayed, which can be collapsed and expanded. But of particular interest to users who plan their time may be the display of the map in the form of a project, where there is a connection with a Gantt chart.
Displaying the map as a project
What you should know here is that each added branch is by default a task that has a start and end date, as well as a status (completed or not completed). Initially, both date fields are set to the day the task was created, and these parameters can only be changed for final branches that do not have a continuation. In this case, changes in child branches automatically shift the date range and percentage of completion for the parent branch, which is the merging task; that, in turn, has its own, and so on until the “global” task - the central idea. It is convenient to indicate the percentage of completion by attaching icons with project completion shares to branches, as well as on a Gantt chart. This is a scale that clearly shows the time periods during which various tasks are performed (it has its own characteristics, but we will not delve into them within the framework of this article). It is also very convenient to change the duration and execution time of tasks. Finally, branches that are not tasks can be disabled from use in project management.
⇡ Synchronization with the cloud
As mentioned earlier, the program is cross-platform and also available in the cloud. The web version is intended primarily for synchronizing maps between different devices, but also allows you to edit them in a browser window. To use the service, you must have an account with ThinkBuzan. And although the server space is provided with 1 GB, synchronization of only five cards is available in free mode, and it occurs only once every 24 hours. For money these restrictions will be lifted. This service is paid separately from the purchase of the program, and you can download the version of iMindMap for your mobile device on the iOS/Android platform. The package is called iMindMap Freedom and the subscription costs $13.99 per year.
Managing cards in ThinkBuzan Cloud
You can view and edit maps in the cloud in the same way as local ones. You can rename, delete, sort them into folders both through the application interface and in the web version. To add a map to the cloud, you need to select “Save to ThinkBuzan Cloud” in save mode and specify the appropriate folder. On the service website this is done using the “Import” button. The function of exporting to various formats is only available in paid mode.
Cloud editor ThinkBuzan Cloud
The “cloud” map editor is based on the Flash platform. Its functionality is greatly reduced compared to the desktop version, and only English is available in languages. The process of adding branches remains the same, and their appearance is also preserved. It is still possible to add branches and links. You can change colors, fonts, and text alignment. Icons, notes, and links are attached to branches, and you can place pictures and floating text on the canvas. Actually, that’s all there is to it, but the main thing is that the cards do not lose their attractiveness online.
⇡ Conclusion
iMindMap was created under the direction of the author of the idea of mental maps, and is sometimes called the official software for this technique. The program was made for mass users who are not experienced in complex conceptual applications. It is inferior in functionality to many other editors, but superior to all analogues in terms of style, ease of use and cross-platform. iMindMap can be an extremely useful tool for students, office workers and generally all people who are inclined to plan and analyze data. It can be used for a variety of purposes: organizing projects and various aspects of life, taking notes from books and lectures, structuring knowledge. Thanks to the presence of iMindMap on all major platforms and the synchronization of maps with the cloud, they will always be with you, no matter where you are and no matter what device you are currently using.
An intelligence map, or mental maps (mind-maps) is a display of an effective way to think, memorize, recall, solve creative problems, as well as the ability to present and visually express your internal information processing processes, make changes to them, and improve them.Mind maps are a tool that allows you to:
- It’s easier to work with information: remember, understand, restore logic.
- convenient to use for presenting material and visually explaining your position to interlocutors
- makes it easier to make decisions, create plans, develop projects.
We offer a fresh selection of 8 excellent programs for creating mind maps. We are confident that these programs will help you use mind-mapping technology 100%. In the selection you will find many free applications and you can easily choose the best option for yourself.
1. Google - www.coggle.it
Coggle is a free online application that supports collaboration on projects. In this program you can develop convenient, beautiful mental maps. The program's interface is simple, but at the same time it has many functions that make the process of creating a mind map incredibly simple. The program supports the use of images, custom color schemes and the ability to view document history. Keeping a history of changes allows you to revert to earlier versions of the map you created if you get stuck in the current version. Mind-maps created in Coggle can be exported in PNG or PDF format.
2. Xmind - www.xmind.net
XMind is a popular cross-platform mind mapping program that runs on Windows/Mac/Linux platforms. The program has several versions: free with reduced capabilities and paid with expanded functionality. One of the main advantages of the program is its support and compatibility with the Microsoft Office suite. And a nice addition is the program’s ability to work with Gantt charts.
3.
The program is an open, free application that runs on any platform that supports Java. In general, the program has all the necessary set of functions to create high-quality mind maps. The only drawback of the program is the outdated design of intelligence cards.
4. MindNode - www.mindnode.com
MindNode is a paid application for creating mind maps on Mac / IOS. The program has a modern minimalistic design and is very easy to use. It supports integration with all Apple devices and works well on both iPad and mobile versions. The application allows you to export created mind maps in the following formats: JPG, PDF, TIFF, text formats, and also supports exporting mind maps to the format of the competing program Freemind.
For users unfamiliar with the program, a trial version of the program with a limited set of MindNode Lite functions is available.
5. BubblUs - www.bubbl.us
Bubble.us is a free web application for online mind mapping. The application allows you to create simple mind-maps and export them in image format. The functionality of the program in comparison with the simple solutions MindNode and Coggle seems a little sophisticated, but still the program solves the problem and creates good mind maps. The program runs on flash and will not work on smartphones.
6. MindMeister - www.mindmeister.com
MindMeister is a paid online mind mapping application. Provides several options for subscription fees, and also provides the opportunity to use the program for free. For free, you can build 3 mind maps with limited export capabilities. The application has a user-friendly interface and the entire necessary set of functions, which allows you to understand the simplicity and convenience of smart card technology. The downside of the program is that it can only be fully used with regular payments, so it is more suitable for those who use mind maps regularly. The program is Russified.
7. Mapul - www.mapul.com
Mapul is a paid online application for creating mind maps. Like MindMeister, Mapul operates on a monthly subscription basis. The program stands out among all other applications with its fancy mind map design.
8. WiseMapping - www.wisemapping.com
WiseMapping is a free online mind mapping application running on HTML5 open source code. The program can be used directly on the developers’ website, or you can download the open source code of the program and install it on your own web server. The application has the full range of functions for working with smart card technology.
Mind mapping is one of the interesting ways to present an idea or task in a more or less formal form that another person can easily understand. Moreover, this idea of presenting tasks does not have any special restrictions, except for the movement from a general task to smaller ones. Therefore, when viewing each of the products in this class, you may find that the functionality may vary greatly. For example, in one of the previous articles we already discussed the XMind program for compiling a mental map, which allows you to combine related tasks from different branches with additional elements in the form of a cloud, which can significantly help in the implementation of those ideas and tasks where there are no clear boundaries. In this same article we will talk about another free program, FreeMind and Edraw.
FreeMind mind mapping software
If you like classic mind mapping programs that automatically create mind maps based on your text, then you should definitely take a look at FreeMind. This multi-platform program with Russian language support will leave you with a pleasant impression. Here is an example of a simple map:
Edraw Mind Map program for mental maps
Unlike FreeMind, Edraw Mind Map is not a classic mental map program; in some ways it is even more reminiscent of a graphic editor or a flowchart program, since the extensive set of all kinds of icons, lines, buttons and other elements is amazing. Here is one of the available built-in examples:
At your disposal will be a huge set of all kinds of pictures and design elements, which you can also supplement with your own images. Edraw also has a fairly large set of tools that allows you to solve a lot of problems. So, for example, you can even put a watermark on each of your projects before exporting them to images (jpg, etc.), pdf, doc, html, svg and visio. The interface of this program is clearly taken from Microsoft Office, although it is supplemented with its own controls. Apparently this was done so that users accustomed to the Microsoft office could easily and quickly get used to the program. In a way, Edraw is intended for those who love colorful and colorful interfaces.
Like FreeMind, Edraw weighs about 38 MB. But, unlike it, Edraw only supports Windows. A check on VirusTotal also showed that the application is free of malware. You can download Edraw Mind Map and find additional documentation on the developer’s website at this address https://www.edrawsoft.com/freemind.php (note that edraw has a number of other products, so carefully look at which link you download the distribution from; for example , the paid version of edrawmax has a trial period of 30 days).
- ConvertFiles service for converting file formats
Technical Tips
Opinions about mental maps are divided approximately in half.
Some say it’s a great thing, visual and useful. Some say this is nonsense and a waste of time. Another part of the people did not understand at all what it was and why it was needed, apparently it was my fault - I didn’t explain it well.
I made an unacceptable mistake for a copywriter - instead of speaking in the language of benefits for the consumer, I began to describe the qualities of the product without first interesting the audience.
Well, they learn from mistakes, especially since this is not an advertising text at all, despite the fact that there is an affiliate link to the program, as someone probably noticed :) However, this is rather my optimism or even faith in a miracle, considering that 9 out of 10 still download from torrents, and the rest use the free version)
This is really my enthusiastic review of a cool thing that, surprisingly, quickly caught my interest and absorbed part of my time)
So, what are the benefits of using iMindMap?
I won’t write out large lists of advantages, you can read the last article and comments to it, I’ve already written a lot there.
I'll just give an example:
Your schedule for the week, if written down on one sheet of paper in linear text ( I think the sheet should be big), how long will it take to cover and, most importantly, fully understand it at one glance? What would you remember in detail and, after a while, just as easily reproduce it from memory? And most importantly, how much effort will be spent on this?
Now imagine that you have made a mental map of your schedule, and feel the difference, as they say)
This is not my card, I found it on the Internet)
If you still don’t see the difference and benefits, then try to do this trick yourself to feel it for yourself. Only after you try it yourself and say that it’s nonsense, not interesting, no benefit, then I’ll believe you) But until now it’s just “too lazy to bother”)
Here is another example of a mental map in Russian, otherwise not everyone liked the English versions last time.
And the practical use of mind maps in blog articles, and tell me that they don’t work, Svetlana did a very good job) By the way, watch the video too, this is a presentation from the same program.
Why did you choose the iMindMap program for creating mind maps?
One of the main reasons is in developing Tony Buzan himself participated directly, creator and popularizer of mental maps. Agree, this is such a significant plus.
Graphic arts– I was very impressed with it, compared to other programs – beautiful, stylish, simple. And most importantly, flexibility and smoothness - how pleasant it is to drag these branches, and they themselves smoothly adapt to the overall picture))
Intuitive interface– forgive me for the clichés, but that’s the way it is) It’s not difficult to figure out how to work in it; additional options are mastered as needed. This is not Adobe Illustrator for you to study with its thousands of options and settings)
Here is my first trial mental map for one of the articles on the blog, made in this program in about 20 minutes.
Of course, there are no pictures here and it doesn’t follow all the rules, I didn’t try too hard, as you can see =) But I think it conveys the essence of the article.
By the way, there you can use a set of ready-made symbols and icons, you can upload your own images, or you can even draw them manually using the built-in graphics editor, which is generally a pleasure for those who like to draw)
It is also possible to write notes for keys, floating text, insert sound files, make presentations, and many more interesting goodies. The main functionality is available even in the free version; to be honest, it is quite enough for normal use. Full-fledged features will cost $250, well, I already wrote about this ( I personally don't need them yet)
By the way, the paid version of iMindMap supports its own cloud service, with the ability to synchronize mental maps, as well as editing in a flash environment.
Ultimately, what I want to say is that for particularly complex technical posts, it is quite possible to use diagrams created in this program and add them to articles for clarity.
Or maybe I won’t :) But at least for myself, I have already found a use for mental maps.
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XMind is a program for creating so-called mind maps. Such maps help organize information in a visually associative form. Each element of the map can represent a thought or idea that is connected to other ideas through hierarchical connections. You can use XMind to search for optimal solutions, brainstorm, solve business problems and much more. XMind allows you to organize idea maps in logical, tree, and other views. The appearance of map elements is customizable - you can set the background color, font settings, add text notes and files, tables, markers, hyperlinks, annotations, and connect one idea to another.
The program allows you to focus on certain areas of mind maps, create voice notes, check the spelling of text, use the search for map elements, export data and publish created maps on the Internet. You can import maps created in other programs of this kind into this application, for example FreeMind and MindManager. XMind supports templates and themes for cards, and also allows you to protect cards from unauthorized access with a password. In addition to the free version, there are several paid versions of XMind that allow you to save maps in Word, Power Point and PDF formats, work in brainstorming mode and create presentations.