Online Mind Mapping Tool
Both Ruth and I use mind mapping when we are gathering ideas for a presentation or for a new document we have to write. Not all employers are happy with the idea that their employees install software on their PCs at work, and in Ruth’s case, where she is often consulting at a new customer every few months this can be quite a problem.
There is a nice, free web-based tool from MindMeister which you can use to capture the mind minds and get around that problem. And being web-based, it doesn’t matter whether you are using a Windows PC, a Mac or a Linux box. If you subscribe to their premium service, you can use Google Gears to work off-line on the mindmaps; the next time you are online you can synchronize the changes back to your account at MindMeister. You can also import existing files produced by Mindjet MindManager and FreeMind.
Update (2008-04-27):
Take a look at Vic Gee’s excellent site for more information on web-based mind mapping tools – thanks for your comment, Vic!
April 27th, 2008 at 16:04:44
I have gathered the details of all of the web-based mind mapping services, over at
http://www.mind-mapping.org/web-based-mindmappers/
This shows what’s free (and how much the subscriptions are for the others), what can import and export MindManager and FreeMind maps and, of course, where to find them.
In addition to overcoming the installation problem, where IT departments disapprove, they also let you collaborate with others when making a mindmap. MindMeister is there, of course, but so are many more and some are completely free.
Vic
http://www.mind-mapping.org
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software
April 29th, 2008 at 10:04:18
hm. never heard of that before. but it makes sense – are you talking about biz presentations? or private?
April 29th, 2008 at 18:04:24
Mostly we use it for biz. It’s a good way to sort out your thoughts on any more complex activity, however, not just for presentations. There are quite a few books about mind mapping, and it’s not difficult to learn.