A New Take on Resolutions: Getting Organized in 2013 Using Mind Maps

Take control of life in 2013 by compiling thoughts and goals into one central, accessible space. This simple step increases the likelihood of success by giving goal-setters a place to refine their ambitions.

One way to catalog and organize goals is to use a mind map. Lucidchart has just improved their mind mapping tool with collapsible branches, which means that it is easier than ever to keep thoughts organized.

A mind map starts with a central theme and branches out into subtopics. Each subtopic can then be broken down into smaller sections with greater detail. For example, if one's goal is to lose weight, make the central topic “Lose weight.” Subtopics could include “Cut down on drinking/smoking”, “Dine out less frequently”, and “Try one new vegetarian dish per week.”   

Mind maps are also ideal for achieving professional goals. Eliza Wright, PR representative at Lucidchart, said, "Mind maps make sense not only for solidifying goals, but for tracking progress over time. To make a greater impact at work, you can use feedback from your peers and supervisors to shape your central topic and subtopics, then do some research on how to meet those objectives.”

All of this information can be housed and neatly organized within the mind map itself. Because of their visual nature, mind maps enable the goal setter to see and digest crucial information at a glance.

When considering diagramming programs, Lucidchart is an outstanding choice. The benefits of using an online diagramming tool are numerous, and include advantages like:

Greater security - Traditional mind mapping programs require a download and installation. With Lucidchart, there is no need to worry about malicious software or viruses, because no downloading is required.

Faster diagramming - Use hot keys to speed up the diagramming process. Hot keys are simple, intuitive keyboard shortcuts that enable mind map creation in just seconds. Mind map branches are collapsible for enhanced readability.

Peace of mind - Each document hosted on Lucidchart is backed up to multiple secure data centers, so there are no worries about backing up or losing data. Lucidchart also maintains robust revision histories, so reverting to an earlier mind map version is always possible.

On-the-go access - Lucidchart is built on open web standards, which means that diagrams are accessible from any location, on any browser, with any device. An Internet connection is the only requirement.

Try Lucidchart for mind mapping today, and see how their latest features make diagram creation both speedy and easy.

Source: sfgate.com

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Windows Phone Mind Map App Adds SkyDrive Integration

The Windows Phone mind map app Concept Mapper, made by SpiveyWorks, has integrated with Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage service so that users can backup and restore mind maps between their phone and the cloud.

SpiveyWorks Concept Mapper app is a Windows Phone mind map app. Concept Mapper was one of the first apps to be launched on the Windows Store in 2011 and has been updated a couple of times each year with new functionality. The app gives users a flexible tool to create mind maps, lists, hierarchies and mesh structures and save that information as a single image to email or post to corporate networks. The free-form nature of the app lets users structure information quickly and how they need it. For example, users make color coded to-do lists, group related items in tag clouds when brainstorming or create mind maps of corporate hierarchies.

Until now there has only been a way to export Concept Mapper creations as an image. There was not a good way to do a complete backup of all the app's files. With the latest Concept Mapper update, available in the Windows Storage, SkyDrive integration has been added to let users select individual mind map files to copy from the phone to SkyDrive or from SkyDrive to the phone. This acts as a full backup solution as well as letting users share their mind maps with other users who can access the same SkyDrive folder. Concept Mapper stores its files as XML so once on SkyDrive any tool that can access XML data can import or dissect information inside the files.

SpiveyWorks has several YouTube videos demonstrating the different features of Concept Mapper for Windows Phone, including how to create a to-do list with your voice. Other videos demonstrate how to make an organizational chart and how to make color-coded lists. Each video runs about two minutes.

SpiveyWorks Corporation is a small business based in Charlotte, NC that designs apps to empower individuals in their daily lives on whatever device they happen to be using.

Product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebmind-map-app/windows-phone/prweb10347010.htm

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Conduct Your Most Epic Brainstorm Sessions on MindMeister

Starting a business can feel like you're speeding down a winding road without breaks, that is, if you don't have a detailed blueprint. For startup founders and entrepreneurs, brewing up a brilliant idea is just the beginning of a long journey.
After brainstorming comes extensive research, planning and ceaseless decision making. Further down the line comes the execution of your business plan. Organizational and collaboration tool MindMeister has been a huge lifesaver for nearly 1.5 million users since its launch in 2007.

The collaborative online mind mapping software was voted the winner in the productivity category in Mashable's Innovation Index this year — a new program that celebrates tech, digital and social innovations that have redefined the world for so many.

MindMeister is an online mind mapping software that works like an extension of your brain. Think of it as a digital catch basin for your team's best ideas — team members can contribute to business plans within the tool. Creative minds can piece together the big plan section by section. After the initial steps are laid out, they can be tweaked and assigned. But the app has uses cases far beyond business. If you're planning a vacation, creating a budget or even studying for an exam, MindMeister can help you organize and visualize your big thoughts and little details in a coherent way.

Source: Mashable

Merry Christmas 2012

Source: http://www.mindmapinspiration.com/

May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you all through the Year. Wishing you a season of blessings from heaven above. Merry Christmas.

MindView 5 Mind Mapping Software - Defining What a Product Upgrade Should Be

With a new 2013 interface, powerful usability upgrades and enhanced project management features, MindView 5 sets the NEW industry standard for Mind Mapping software. 

The highly anticipated release of MindView 5 defines what a product upgrade should be. MatchWare revamped the software from the ground up, focusing on improving user experience and productivity. MindView 5 sets the standard for mind mapping software with the industry’s best MS Office integration and comes with the new 2013 interface. With enhanced editing, new map styles and powerful navigation options, mind mapping sessions will be more engaging than ever before!

MatchWare’s Product Manager Thomas Henriksen explains, “After nearly 2 years of gathering user feedback, and months of product research, we are proud to release MindView 5. With an enhanced interface, optimized MS Office integration and powerful project planning features, MindView 5 improves usability and the presentation of ideas, making users more efficient in their daily work. MindView 5 is an invaluable asset for any organization.”

MindView 5’s Feature Highlights

• MS Office® 2013 Interface with new Timeline and Outline modes
• Enhanced MS Office® integration
• New Map Styles and Custom Map Style Designer
• Inclusion and auto generation of Citation and Bibliography information
• Improved Calculation feature including Constants, Resources and Materials
• Map Nav Pins (Bookmarks) & Legends
• Powerful Project Management features
• Much more…

The Industry Leader in Mind Mapping Software Optimized for Project Management

MindView 5’s greatest improvements are the project management upgrades.  Users can now take advantage of individual resource calendars, resource and material cost, effort driven scheduling, inactive tasks, improved project reports and task types such as fixed units, fixed duration or fixed work.  When visualizing branch data, users can now show estimated, actual and remaining work/cost data as well as apply a true WBS numbering scheme where the root is level 1. For those MS Project® enthusiasts, these new features can be exported directly to MS Project, improving the synergy between MindView and MS Project®.

“With MindView 5’s new individual resource calendars, costs and effort driven tasks along with the MS Project integration my scheduling has improved, making MindView an invaluable tool during my initial planning stage.”, states Jim Franklin, Project Manager at The Shaw Group & Instructor at the University of California San Diego.

Djamila Mauclaire, IT Director at BNP Paribas states, “MindView has helped our PMO achieve a 30% increase in productivity by streamlining processes and eliminating rework.  By brainstorming in the WBS view, we can capture stake holder requirements and project elements vital to meeting our deadlines. The integration with MS Office helps us produce project ready reports and documents to keep our teams up to speed.”

MatchWare has also improved the MatchWare Shared Workspace, enabling MindView users to collaborate and share maps in the cloud.

MindView 5 offers a wide range of powerful new features that help maximize productivity while saving both time and money.  At a onetime fee of $379 for a single user it is a tool that no business should be without. 

To order MindView 5 or to download a demo version, please visit www.matchware.com

Source: blogit.realwire.com

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Become a master at mind mapping with MindMapp

Learn how to mind map with MindMapp, the first interactive workshop for iPad. Master the basic theory of mind mapping and apply what you have learned in a number of exercises. Ready to make your own mind map? The MindMapp canvas lets you create beautiful and effective mind maps and share them on Twitter.

MindMapp is suitable for people who want to start mind mapping. The basics of mind mapping are explained with inspirational exercises and appealing examples. Practice what you learn on the canvas at your fingertips. MindMapp gives you instant feedback with helpful suggestions and visual responses. With each exercise finished, you earn a badge which allows you to track your progress from Rookie to Master.

Hans Buskes, mind map trainer: “For 15 years I have been training people to master mind mapping. To use them among others for better learning, smarter note taking, problem solving, understanding complex patterns and reducing complex issues to easy to grasp infographics. Now my experience is captured in MindMapp. The result is unique: an interactive workshop and mind map canvas in one app.”

Every month, a mind map that has been publicly shared by one of MindMapp’s users will be selected. This mind map will be highlighted as ‘MindMapp of the month’ and featured on Hans Buskes’ website MasterMindMaps.

MindMapp is available on the App Store for $5.99 and is the fastest, easiest and most fun way to learn and master mind mapping.

Source: pressdoc.com

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Mind Mapping for Successful Software Development

It’s amazing what happens when a group of people stands around a whiteboard, grabs some markers and starts mind mapping. They think of new experiments to solve a thorny problem. They find better a design solution for a software feature. They identify important test cases that might otherwise have been missed. Mind maps do magic. 

If your software team hasn’t tried mind mapping to help plan themes, design technical implementations, build a test strategy, or write user documentation, it’s worth your time to learn how simply you can get started.

Mind Map Features, Themes, Epics

Try kicking off your next major feature or theme by mind mapping. Find a space with a big whiteboard. Gather together business experts, end users, programmers, product owners, business analysts, testers, database experts, system administrators, everyone who will be involved in delivering or using the software. If your project is geographically distributed, substitute an online whiteboard that allows real-time concurrent collaboration and a projector or huge monitor, along with good voice and video connections.

If a product owner or other stakeholder already knows what’s needed in the feature, she can prepare a whiteboard ahead of time as a starting point. This saves time and helps focus the discussion. The whiteboard can be easily changed, which allows everyone to feel free to suggest changes.

Here’s a whiteboard (below) from a theme planning discussion my team conducted. The product owner drew an extensive mind map ahead of time. He used color-coding to indicate UI features, other affected areas in the system such as documentation, and possible future features that we should keep in mind.

Read the original blog entry...

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