Hello!
Sorry, I posted my last message so long time ago, but I'm back)
Since I wrote here last time I have tried to use mind mapping in two different, new and interesting ways.

First, I wrote an algorithm with mind map tools. To put it more precisely - I wrote requirements specification for a software product. Advantages of mind mapping here is a high speed of creating.
When you write requirements specification, you should imagine all possible situations and soft' behavior. And you should FIX IT!
So, put the first state of your program as a main topic of the mind map. On the first level you should place all states which can be reached with one action from initial state. Next level is organized by states which can be reached from one of the 1 level states and so on.
In the end you will have a scheme of states of your program.
Mind mapping here is more comfortable then UML, for example. Because you can create mind map quickly and you should not think about correct formats of lines).
This blog is running by authors of Mind Pad(www.mind-pad.com).

On the Mindjet.com you can find a new page – “Recommended Reading” , which contains a list of books about mind mapping and corresponding ideas. For example, project management, business improvement, productivity, team productivity and collaboration and so on.

In one of the Tony Buzan books he talks about list of words memorization. His test illustrates a mechanism mind mapping based on.
Let’s try to do it.
1. Try to memorize a list of 20 words in 5 minutes. I tried and it was only 7 words (((.
2. Think out what object does an each number look like? It is about 1-10 numbers. For other 1-10 numbers try to think out a rhyme. For example, for me 1 looks like a baseball bat. For better use – mind map your associations using pictures.
3. Try to compare your words with your associations and rhymes. Compose it into single sentence. For example, if your number is one and your word is “egg”, you may write something like “The egg was broken by the bat”.)))

As interesting – I really memorized all words!
According to this we may conclude all this:
- associations and pictures are one of the most powerful methods for thinking;
- we use this method not so often and we get used to think with words and it is not so good as it could be;
- mind mapping allows us to combine both of these methods and increase our effectiveness.

When you start mind map one of your projects, you can face the challenge with too long branches. Many people I know create mind maps, where one or two branches are too long in comparison with others.
I noted that often such unbalanced mind map means that its author doesn’t have a clear idea of the mind map topic. Or maybe author was keen on some aspects of the problem and forgot about other sides of it.
So, be careful, bear in mind that balanced mind map is one of the sure signs that you considered most important points of the problem.

When I read special books, which are difficult for understanding, I always use mind maps for creating my own view of this book.
It is not about creating summary after reading, it is a visible reading. You draw what you see.
Mind map technique allows you to interpret book as you need and to fix your mind about it.
The problem of all this – is changing your mind during reading. But there are only two tips to solve it:
- use special software to create such mind maps, because you will need to change branches and topics;
- choose software such as Mind Pad, because changing the position of child-objects is always a routine in mind mapping software, especially, if map is big. In Mind Pad 2.6 this problem was solved, now instead of moving across a map with a lot of objects and using drag-and-drop function, one can run a "Reorder children" dialog and re-arrange objects represented as a lines in a text list.
There are some advantages of reading books with mind maps:
- you will not need to read this book again – all you need is in the mind map;
- you will get a visual presentation of all book;
- you can use this mind map as a summary;
- your level of understanding will be deeper, because you will think during reading.

As you see, AKS-Labs has released v 2.6 of Mind Pad, a .NET mind, process and concept mapping software for Windows.
Corresponding to one of its features I would like to tell you about one interesting technique of data storing.
Nowadays many people have to be very mobile. They need their data on the beach, in the airplane, on their vacation, business trips, home and so on.
They have some variants: laptop, flash drive and Internet.
Everything is clear with laptop. But I would like to give you some tips for using flash drive, Internet and Mind Pad.
1. You can create your own mobile office on the flash drive. Use some programs from http://www.portablefreeware.com/. All of them can run without installing from your flash drive. So, you can tune your office for your needs without thinking about specific computer.
2. Use Internet as data storage. It can be your blog, your site, your photo catalog, special site for data storage (for example Google Base).
3. Use Mind Pad to organize your information by saving URLs. From release of new Mind Pad: “There is a new function in Mind Pad. Now you can pass any frame's property as a parameter to URL hyperlink.
For instance, you can point your web-browser to the web-site www.mind-pad.com and use the text from frame as a parameter (see the screenshot). Note: you can pass any property as a parameter.
Also, we have added a new custom designed icons, so this dialog now is very nice.”
So, at the end you will get a mobile office, most suitable for you, accessible anywhere. Good Luck!

This blog is running by authors of Mind Pad (www.mind-pad.com)

In Innovation WebBlog you can read about great idea:

"Vj Mariaraj is a big fan of mind mapping - so much so that he has created a new online business, selling mind map summaries of popular business books. This format can provide you with a useful overview of the key ideas contained within a book, without having to invest many hours reading it from cover to cover."

Read more about it on Business Book Mind Map.com.

Maybe, mind maps cannot replace reading books, but undoubtedly it is very useful to have needed book in mind map format if you want:

• recall an idea from this book;
• prepare for something using this book and so on.

This blog is running by authors of Mind Pad  (www.mind-pad.com)

Brian Mayne has developed a system if goal mapping, corresponding to SMARTER-goal setting, described below. You can read about it on his site.

There is a seven steps' system:

1. Describe what do you want;
2. Set your priorities;
3. Create a mind map;
4. Define your motivation;
5. Build your time profile;
6. What should you do to achieve all these?
7. List all people and organization, who can help you.

Here is the understandable template of the mind map.

Here you can download some related articles.

And here you can buy some books about all this.

Long-life and short-life mind maps in Innovation Blog:

"According to Nick Duffill from Gyronix, many users of mind mapping software only use them to meet short-term needs – to brainstorm ideas or outline the agenda for a meeting, for example. But he believes one of the most powerful ways you can use them is for what he calls “long-lifetime” applications. That is, maps that you return to again and again to update the information contained within them.

Typically, many users of mind mapping software use them for a few days to get them through an event, such as a brainstorming session or an upcoming meeting. Because of this short-term perspective, Duffill says they may be missing an opportunity to get even more value out of their favorite visual diagramming application.

In contrast, long-lifetime mind maps are focused on strategies or projects – assignments that take a longer timeframe to develop. Often, connections between related pieces of information in our maps aren’t immediately evident at the time you record them. It’s often only after days or weeks of perspective that you may get hit by the legendary “a-ha!” and see where something fits. Long-lifetime maps, therefore, are works in progress, which you continue to refine as your project evolves."

As you know, mind maps are one of the best techniques for studying. In this tip, we will talk about abstracting. It should be used not only for lections, but also while reading special literature, which is difficult for understanding.
Abstracting – is an active method not only for remembering and understanding, but also for concentrating on the subject.
Most people can easily obtain information from memory if this information has been noted. Without abstracting, we can remember just a small piece of information. Abstracting allows to order information optimally and remember on request.
Disadvantages of traditional abstracting are:
- problems with changing and adding new information;
- it is difficult to find needed answer;
- you can’t create common view on the problem;
- you cannot fix interconnections between different ideas.
In contrast to this, mind maps open new possibilities for you. Using mind maps, you will get:
- presentation of the problem on one piece of paper;
- activating your brain for remembering;
- time saving;
- possibility to add and change information any time you want;
- common view on the problem including interconnections between different objects and parts;
- main moments fixing;
- easy detailed remembering.
Some tips for abstracting with mind maps:
- use symbols;
- mark main ideas and leave some place for details;
- don’t be afraid of creative mapping;
- review your abstract in the end;
- save this map for further use.

Have you ever had difficulties with visualizing long periods of time?
For example, you have a business idea. According to circumstances, you can’t realize it in a short term period. However, you want to remember this idea or maybe you need to make some serious steps to it and so on. Once you realize that your long-term plans are very blurred. Notes cannot really help you, because if dates are stand far one from another – date symbols and numbers will tell you nothing. And that is the problem.
However, digress of this problem and think about such question. What is the time for you? What picture do you see, when you try to imagine a year?
For example, for me one year is an oval. Bottom is a summer, top is a winter, left side is a spring and right side is am autumn.
Moreover, I circle as times go by counter-clockwise.
Remember, it is my personal fancy! Maybe your image will be different. The main thing is to find your personal fancy.
Once you have found it, create a mind map with your plans for one, two or more years. Just place months and seasons as branches in your personal manner accordnig to your fancy. Next-level branches should be your steps to this time. In the end, you will have a plan, which let you easily visualize your life for a ling-term period.

Introduction:

People use mind mapping widely in different business processes. In this article we will discuss two very important actions in any business – creating contracts and negotiating. Sometimes your business success depends on unsuccessful talks and incorrectly created contract. You can control both of these things using mind maps.

Talks and contracts with mind mapping

You are afraid of signing incorrect contract? Do you need to be sure that all questions, disagreements and topics have been discussed during negotiations? Use mind mapping to be sure. You can create clear picture of these important business things with mind maps.

By Jane Smorodnikova

 

Mind mapping can be used to increase effectiveness of almost all business tasks. This article is pointed to describe mind mapping for creating contracts and preparing negotiations. What is the common point of these two subjects? Of course, business partners. When you have a deal with your employee, you can spend some time for talking by means of persuasion or you can just order him something. But when you are talking with another organization’ official representative, you can be confronted by several difficulties, such us:

-          He does not owe to listen to you;

-          He can find only limited time for you;

-          Often he does not really need you or your organization and

-          He always has his own interests in talking with you.

There are many professional books about successful negotiations and many professional legal experts, but we will discuss simple and intuitive methods, which could help you with these non-trivial questions. Even non-professional can create correct contract or to give a resulting talk with business partner. First of all, he need to have a common view of the final goal and then, he need an easy way to keep all needed points clear and transparent, and to avoid forgetting some small and important point. Below we will tell you, how to use mind mapping for this, while working with contract creating and talk preparing and carrying out.

Contracts. From simple to difficult.

What parts does contract consist of?

First of all, you know the sides of the contract and its subject. Also you will often find such parts as:

-          settlement order;

-          sides’ rights and responsibilitys;

-          confidenciality;

-          act of God part;

-          resolution of case order;

-          special conditions, etc.

Then, of course, you should have a typical contract, according to activity of your organization. So, now you have a set of contract’ required parameters. It will help us in creating a template of a contract as a mind map. Main topic – is a briaf contract subject. Branches – are above-listed parts of the contract. It is very simple, isn’t it?

Now you can use this map to think about this contract. You see the whole structure, so, create subtopics for the main points, use comments to create a reminder about important things.

Then it is very useful during concordance – you are always have all things you want to concord, discuss and so on. But this is already about negotiations. We will talk about it in the next part.

Negotiations and talks with mind maps

Here you can use mind maps for two different tasks – work organization before meeting and work during negotiations.

Create a template map, which can be used for meeting preparations. Example structure for the template:

1.       Meeting

1.1.    Before meeting

1.1.1.       Define the subject

1.1.2.       Prepare discussion topic

1.1.3.       Reorganize and range topic list for order of the day creating

1.1.4.       Create day order

1.1.5.       Distribute day order for participants

1.1.6.       Create reminders for the meeting, for example “it is very important to end at the concrete time”.

1.2.    During meeting

1.2.1.       For each topic

1.2.1.1.             Bring into correlation with day order

1.2.1.2.             Define goal

1.2.1.3.             Focus on the main things

1.2.2.       Collect your ideas on the day order map (we will talk about this map later)

1.2.2.1.             Note ALL opinions

1.2.2.2.             Add new branches to talk about this another time

1.2.3.       Note common decisions and concordances

1.3.    After meeting

1.3.1.       Edit day order map

1.3.1.1.             Reorganize it

1.3.1.2.             Keep it up to date

1.3.1.3.             Mark out common points and contradictions

1.3.1.4.             Mark up dependencies and correlations

This template is a map of your steps – mark the steps you have done.

What is day order map? It is a working map with meeting subject as the main topic, discussion topics as branches and so on. This map is used on the meeting and after meeting. If you can use software tool for mapping – you can add date and time marks and use your map as a real day order. For example, it is easily possible with Mind Pad. Also you can use icons for marking and text on links for correlation definition.

Fast text generation with mind map: “Mind map is a strategy for making notes on a topic, prior to writing. It is a structured strategy, which shows the (hierarchical) relationship of ideas, as opposed to an unstructured strategy, such as brainstorming, in which you produce notes at random on paper. Having an organized display of information from the outset of the writing process may help you, as it is more easily converted into a draft, whereas in brainstorming, the random recording of ideas might lead to problems with the structure of your texts”.

 

By Jane Smorodnikova

Mind maps can be used for a multitude of purposes. This article outlines how they can effectively be used to help support and develop your writing skills and makes text generation faster and easier.

Making a mind map should be a spontaneous pre-writing activity. You can start with a topic at the center and then generate a web of ideas from that, developing and relating these ideas as their mind makes associations.

Mind maps work well as their visual design enables people to see the relationship between ideas, and encourages them to group certain ideas together as they proceed.

As usually, article or any other piece of text begins from a topic definition or finding main idea of the text.

The mind map strategy can be used to explore almost any topic, though discursive essays and narrative work particularly well as they front ideas. But you should remember that there are only two ways to create an interesting text:

-         explore an unusual or a new topic (writing news, innovation introductions and something else in this way);

-         find some interesting facts about existing topic or describe in a new way.

Start by writing the topic in the center.

Creativity with mind maps

Once the topic has been introduced, you can try to close your eyes and think about it for a minute or two, in silence. And then just note down your ideas. If your topic is complicated, group your notes into branches, for example, divide arguments, advantages, facts or thoughts. Don’t forget to accompany your map with symbols, comments, images. Visual thinking is effective, when it is illustrative. To reach clearness and comfortable mind map creating – use special software, for example Mind Pad. For such activity as text generating software should support different types of frames, hot linking and writing text on links, like Mind Pad.

Then, working with your map, you can go over again your ideas, perhaps adding to your mind map as they go.

The map is fluid and changeable, and new connections or subgroups can be made, or branches added, as the you have any suggestions. The end result should be an organised display of information, showing the central topic, and a number of subtopics and further points that stem from it.

Another advantage of Mind Pad – is different frame types using feature. Use different frame types for end text, comments and so on. Use texts on links to define connections between suptopica and points. The best practice is to use quastions for it. For example, if the main theme is smoking, you can create such branches as harm, reasons and so on. In this case you can write on links such quastion as “Why is it so dangerous?”, “What are common reasons of smoking?”. Creating connections with quastions will help you to support logical structure of your text.

Writing a text from mind map

In the next stage you should organize your mind map into a linear format to decide the best way in which to present your points. You should first think about the overall structure, i.e. the order in which to relay the information, and then focus on the precise function each paragraph will have in their final text, as this helps to clarify your writing. If you use Mind Pad, you can just avail yourself of Mind Pad report function. Reporting allows transforming your map in a linear structure for further working, including all subtopics and comments.

However it is carried out, it is important to think about a context and audience. Having an audience in mind will helps you to decide which ideas are most important, and also helps to choose the appropriate style.

So, at this stage you should then begin to write your compositions.

Note, that at this moment because of mind mapping you already have:

-         sensible topic;

-         well-organized structure with headings, connected with the logical quastions;

-         finished pieces of text in comment format;

-         and the whole text structure with all this in one text file.

And now you just need to write additional sentences to describe you topic in details.

Mind mapping is a useful technique and often improves the clarity and organization of texts.

"Almost every day we find new ways to study languages. We examine methods of words remembering, grammar explanation and so on. Many professional teachers of different languages nowadays tall us about importance of having a complex view on the language. One of the ways is using mind maps for studying."

By Jane Smorodnikova

If you need to know several languages or you just like it – you will find out many different study methods. But one of the main things is to learn thinking linguistically. This article is about mind mapping as a tool for support understanding languages’ structure.

What means thinking linguistically?

If you want to study languages easily, you should understand connections between them.

Comparing two languages (for example, your native and foreign) can help you in studying other languages – because you will understand the main thing – language structure, methods of naming objects and different ways of sentence forming.

For example, almost all languages can be divided on analytic languages and synthetic languages. First variant means that word meaning is created by word combination, word order in a sentence, using secondary words (like articles in English). Second variant allows changing word value by changing the word itself (using declensional and other endings).

Example:

English: “The young cook has cooked the tasty porridge.”

German: “Der junge Koch hat den schmackhaften Brei gekocht.”

Let’s analyze these sentences:

How can we understand – what noun is a subject?

In German subject (“der Koch”) is in subjective case. Object («der Brei») is in accusative case.

But there are no cases in English! So, how can we be sure, that “the cook” is the subject? Because of the word order. So, German is a synthetic language in defining the subject and English – analytic. But in defining predicate – both of these languages are analytic. Interesting, isn’t it? For example, Russian – is a completely synthetic language. There are no articles in Russian; you do not need to remember about word order, there are no compound verbs. But such languages are very difficult for studying, because most of grammar phenomena in Russian can not be explained and only wide experience can help you speak Russian correctly.

How to use mind mapping for learning?

We have found out that understanding language’ structure is one of the most important things in learning. So, how can you do this easier?  Create a mind map using special software, like a Mind Pad. Main topic is your language. Then create several branches like words order, time organization, and word forms. Fill out your map while learning new grammar structures. For example, it is word position in a sentence (see an example upper) – how to recognize a subject? Then explain how it happens in your native language and in your new language. Example map branches will look like this:

1.      Main topic – German

2.      Next level – German->words order, German->times, German->words forms… etc.

3.      Words order -> subject

4.      Subject->Subject in German (“der Koch” is in subjective case), Subject->Subject in English – “cook” is on the first place in the sentence.

If you use Mind Pad – you can create comments for each topic – with examples.

While studying language, do not forget to fill your map, add comments (you can specify – is this particular grammar method - analytic or synthetic), examples of illustrative sentences.

Don’t be afraid of rebuilding your map, changing lines and branches, reconfiguring it. After full grammar course you will have a system of language studying. Understanding connections between native and foreign languages, differences and analogies will help you in finding more easy way for learning any language you want.

Creating language mind map with Mind Pad

For language mind mapping Mind Pad is most comfortable softtool for using. Mind Pad 2.0 suggest new techniques for managing frames and links. So you can easily change the grammar structure as you see it. Frames 'Hot Linking' is now available. Instead of moving single frames you can now move whole branches and link it to another frame by just drag-and-dropping.

Also it allows writing text on links and you can specify, what is this example about and so on. Just double click on link between two frames and put some comments into the text box.

The main tip is – try to create a common map, find connections and explore internal structure of the language you learn. After you have understood the methods of sentence generation on the basic of your native language, you will need just word remembering and talking practice.

Why do mind maps work and why doesn't every one use mind maps? You can find answers in Between Seeing weblog. He has a 25 years experience in mind mapping and share his thoughts. Read details here.

I would add my question: why does mind map software work? Why doesn't every one use mind map software?

Probably, it's about usability or finding tasks where mind map can help, for instance, if mind mapping can help blogger? Read article in our blog and mind map for bloggers.

Six Sigma is a highly structured program for improving business processes. It was created by Mikel Harry and Richard Schroeder at Motorola in the early 1980's. Support Six Sigma process with mind mapping and Mind Pad.

Read more: http://www.mind-pad.com/solutions/quality-management/six-sigma-quality-management-mind-map.htm

Use Total Quality Management with mind mapping for managing quality process in your company. Quality assurance through statistical methods is a key component in a manufacturing organization where TQM generally starts by sampling a random selection of the product. The sample can then tested for things that matter most to the end users.

Read more: http://www.mind-pad.com/solutions/quality-management/total-quality-management-mind-map.htm

A SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. You can use Mind Pad to support your SWOT analysis with mind mapping or custom designed SWOT object.

Read more: http://www.mind-pad.com/solutions/quality-management/swot-quality-management-mind-map.htm

As different researches show, 38% companies use Six Sigma process. You can use mind map to support Six Sigma processes. or example, if we want to create a map of Six Sigma, we will get something like this...

Read more: http://www.mind-pad.com/support/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=54

We are glad to start this new blog. It’s about mind mapping and personal productivity techniques. As publisher of Mind Pad we are interested in promoting our product too, but we are going to do this only when Mind Pad can really add a value to some article or post.

You are always welcome to share your thoughts in comments.