Are you a visual thinker? Do you draw arrows and bubbles when you plan something? I am…and I stumbled across the coolest program recently. It’s called MyThoughts and is only for the Mac.
They call it mind mapping software, although as a biologist I think of mind mapping having different connotations. But it’s really a useful little program.
When studying for my comprehensives I used to keep a Book of Knowledge” that used different colours and arrows and circles to connect ideas and knowledge. This software does the same thing but on the Mac and it even lets you print out or use the final images in presentations. It generates curvy colourful thought trains that are pleasing to look at and create interest. Great for brainstorming!
You can add relationships between thought branches, modify the curve of the relationship line to suit your needs, add text, add colour and your diagram looks great in no time at all.
Watch the MyThoughts for Mac Video – Organic Mind Mapping
The developer says:
Mind Mapping is a method of visual thinking. Mind Maps improve your ability to brainstorm, evaluate and learn information in a fashion that is brain friendly.
A Mind Map is a picture that represents thoughts, ideas, tasks and other such topics that radiate and link to one central keyword or thought. This visual approach helps generate new thought paths, helps structure your ideas, provides a clear means of thought presentation and is well proven as a study aid.
Mind Maps make use of the human brain’s ability to associate detailed information with one single image. For example, if asked to describe your front door, the image of your front door would appear in your mind’s eye and you could describe in some depth the appearance of your door.
This is how Mind Maps work. They take volumes of info and turn it into a visual snap shot.
As the saying goes “A picture is worth a thousand words”.
The Mind Map below shows what factors are involved in creating happiness for this individual. If asked to write a list she may have been overwhelmed as to how to respond. She may also miss how inter-related the factors are. A good illustration of The whole being greater than the sum of its parts, and illustrated perfectly in a Mind Map.
Mind Mapping is useful all in aspects of life, including personal thinking, education, and business thinking.
Tags: mac, MyThoughts, programs, software