Technical Specifications of Visual Mind
Visual Mind is a tool used for mind mapping, which is a technique developed by Tony Buzan to enable one to put their mind on paper. It is more efficient than the normal taking down of notes (Mind Technologies, 2010f).
Mind Mapping
“A Mind Map consists of a map title (title branch), which holds the subject of the map” (Mind Technologies, 2010f, p. 4). The title branch can have child branches as the title branch is expanded with the addition of thoughts about the subject. Each thought can in turn have more detailed thoughts under them, making the mind map grow bigger.
Mind mapping allows for faster writing as only keywords and the relations between them are used. This in turn allows for faster reading since it doesn’t use whole sentences. In addition, mind mapping allows the person to easily get an overview, which can result in the formation of new ideas and new conclusions. It also leaves more empty space where the person can store additional thoughts, making mind mapping easier to maintain and evolve.
Features of Visual Mind
Unlike mind mapping by using a pen and paper, mind mapping by using Visual Mind allows for the hiding of branches. This allows the user to make the map small and simple by showing only the branches that the user is currently working on. It also allows for easy restructuring, as the user can add as many branches as needed without worrying about running out of space. It is also possible for the user to move the branches around.
In addition, Visual Mind provides file and folder links. File linking allows the user to link a file to a branch so that the user can access the file directly from Visual Mind. Visual Mind can open almost any type of document and program. This enables the user to organize documents by subject rather than by format. Folder linking, on the other hand, allows the user to link a folder to a branch so that the user can open a folder directly from visual Mind.
Aside from folders and files, a user can also link to web hyperlinks, e-mails, e-mail addresses, and other Microsoft Outlook elements such as appointments and contacts. In addition, a user can store phone numbers on mind maps and dial the number directly from Visual Mind, provided the user has the required hardware installed.
Visual Mind allows for the insertion of symbols either for aesthetics or for adding more information about a branch. It also allows for the linking of one branch to another related branch either within the same map or across different maps. Linking to another branch allows the user to go directly to the other branch.
A branch can also store descriptive notes that can contain more information about the branch. In addition, Visual Mind includes capabilities for performing searches and for printing.
About Mind Technologies
Mind Technologies is in the business developing “software for thought-controlled technologies, allowing the user to interact with the computer and other machines through the power of the mind” (Mind Technologies, 2010d).
They offer several applications, but they have been in the mind mapping software industry for more than ten years now (“Mind Technologies, 2010a). They strive to provide their customers with the best user experience by using customer feedback to continuously improve the functionality and user-friendliness of their product.
Installation Requirements for Visual Mind
The following are the minimum requirements for installing Visual Mind (Mind Technologies, 2010b):
Pentium processor
Windows 7/Vista/XP
512 MB RAM
80 MB free hard disk space
Users can download a trial version, which they can use for thirty days. The software must then be registered after the trial period expires.
It should be noted that there is currently no native version of Visual Mind for Macintosh computers. However, Visual Mind can be still be installed and run on a Macintosh computer by using a Windows emulator.
Cost of Visual Mind
There are two editions of Visual Mind, the Business and the Basic Editions (Mind Technologies, 2010f). The Business Edition includes all of Visual Mind’s features while the Basic Edition includes only a subset of the features.
Users can also avail of Visual Mind Server, which “allows multiple users to work together on the same Visual Mind map in real time” (Mind Technologies, 2010e).
Users also have the option to purchase additional products such as theRealizer for Visual Mind, Mind2Chart for Visual Mind, and Outlook EasyTask for Visual Mind, all of whose prices range from US$50 to US$200.
In addition, users can upgrade their Visual Mind installations. Prices range from US$100 to almost US$4000, depending on the type of license the user has.
Applications for Visual Mind
The mind map that a user can create using Visual Mind is useful for remembering thoughts. Examples of its use in the workplace would include note-taking, decision making, planning, brainstorming, address books, summaries, and presentations.
Other applications for Visual Mind include the development of creative thinking; visual collaboration with others; project management; process/knowledge management; creation of a knowledge base; organization of thoughts and ideas; and idea outlines (“Mind Mapper,” 2009). It can also be used for training, teaching, studying, and scheduling.
Visual Mind as a Decision-making Tool
Decision-making often involves the selection of an option out of two or more alternatives.
The main branches of a mind map can be used “to identify the different options available and to explore the implications of each one” (Smith, 2011).The free association process around the alternatives enable users to think deeply about the options and even to clarify their personal feelings. If one mind map fails to help the user to sufficiently evaluate the different ideas then the user can make their preferred alternatives the topic of individual mind maps.
The use of Visual Mind in making decisions enables users to come up with new ideas since both the logical left brain and the creative right brain are utilized. It also enables a user t\o become more relaxed. This in turn allows a user to think laterally, that is, the ability to look at a decision or problem from a different point of view. It should be noted that unconventional thinking has been the root of many great decisions.
Mind mapping allows a user to start developing their ideas and determine what these ideas may involve. This helps the user gauge how they feel about the various options. It may also result in new ideas. In the same manner, mind mapping allows a user to see how different ideas relate to each other. This can help the user determine if they can combine two or more of the options selected.
In addition, just performing the exercise of mind mapping may help the user identify a decision they either want to make or recommend to others.
Model Used for Mind Mapping
Since the source of data for Visual Mind is the user’s mind or thoughts, Visual Mind makes use of the heuristics model in helping users organize their thoughts, make decisions, or brainstorm.
“Heuristics are strategies that help produce correct solutions,” (Neal, n.d.) although heuristics don’t always result in the right answer. There are three types of decision-making heuristics, namely the representative heuristic, the availability heuristic, and the anchoring and adjustment heuristic.
Representative heuristic is used when basing decisions on the “likeliness of a sample to occur in the population” (Neal) where “random outcomes are more accepted than orderly outcomes as long as the outcome is due to a random process” (Neal).
The availability heuristic, on the other hand, makes use of memory in decision making, that is, judgments about probability and frequency are made based on how easy it is to think of examples. Similarly, the anchoring and adjustment heuristic is based on previous knowledge, which becomes the basis of one’s initial judgment where they later make adjustments based on any additional information received.
This pretty much mirrors how mind mapping software like Visual Mind works. It helps users store and keep track of their ideas, memories, or previous knowledge that enable them in making the right decision or in brainstorming for new ideas.
Knowledge Management for Visual Mind
The Visual Mind client is a stand-alone application where mind maps are stored locally on the user’s computer. However, Visual Mind Server can be installed to enable multiple users to share and collaborate on the same mind maps (Mind Technologies, 2010c).
Visual Mind Server allows more than one user to share mind mapping content in real time, that is, any change made to a mind map instantly becomes available to other users who work on the same map. Visual Mind Server has access control features that prevent users from overwriting each other’s changes. Moreover, Visual Mind allows the system administrator to assign access rights to users, depending on their permission level. For example, a folder can be hidden from users who do not have permission to access the folder’s contents. Read permissions can also be granted to allow users a read-only access while Write permission can be granted to enable users to read and edit a map. In addition, certain users can be given administrative access to enable them to read, edit, and change the password settings of a map.
Issues Overcome by the Use of Visual Mind
Mind mapping software such as Visual Mind aid in overcoming issues such as information overload, disorganization, and memory gaps.
In the same manner, tools like Visual Mind provide users with a repository for their thoughts, enabling them to revisit those thoughts in their original state any time that the user finds the need to.
How Visual Mind Contributes to an Organization’s Success
There are many ways in which mind mapping software such as Visual Mind help organizations succeed. It is especially helpful in collaborative environments, as Visual Mind enables employees to easily present and share their ideas in a flexible manner. Collaborators can easily align and arrange the output of ideas in a logical and coherent manner (TroyM, 2011). When brainstorming for ideas in meetings, the use of Visual Mind can help the participants easily understand ideas and concepts, which can lead to shorter meetings and more productivity. Research further shows that the use of mind mapping tools increase productivity by 20%.
Mind mapping also aids in problem resolutions. It helps users think more creatively, enabling them to easily and quickly come up with solutions. The brain processes information more easily when information is presented in a visual and organized form rather than when it is presented in a disorganized manner (TroyM).
In the same manner, the visual representation of ideas enables employees to identify gaps in information. Software developers, for example, use mind mapping in the process of gathering requirements to ensure that they have captured all of the user’s requirements (Hiranabe, 2011).
References
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Neal, N. (n.d.). Decision making heuristics. Retrieved from
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Smith. J. (2011). Mind mapping for decision making. Retrieved from
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