People in the mind map world are all aware of Tony Buzan’s promotion of this learning technique, and most will also know about his mind map software, “iMindMap,” released in 2006. But despite Buzan being virtually the “father” of the modern rise of the mind map way of organizing knowledge, he was by no means first out of the gate when it came to creating software that could be used for this purpose. There are many other types of this brainstorming software that have been created in the past decade or so.
For example, there is a lot of mind map freeware available for download, ranging from programs that create mind maps solely to those that have that capacity as one of their features. “Compendium” is a program that works with “issue maps” that make pictorial illustrations of the connection between issues and the questions that surround them. “FreeMind” is java-based mind map software that works across all the main platforms and has plugins that can connect it to common wiki programs. “WikkaWiki,” or “Wikka,” is not purely a program that maps ideas, yet it does have a component that allows people to edit mind maps through wiki pages. These three are just a drop in the bucket of freeware programs.
Proprietary software is just as numerous, though some of it is not strictly mind map software but includes that function among other available tools. “XMIND” is an example of this type, a cross-platform program that supports mind mapping but only as one function alongside tree diagrams, organizational charts and task management. “MindManager,” on the other hand, is purely software that follows the principles taught by Tony Buzan. It is said to run on both Windows and Mac platforms, but works best with Windows. “OmniGraffle” is a Mac-only tool that is actually more of a diagramming program, but it can include mind maps as one of its functions.
The list of software for creating mind maps goes on apparently forever, as all software lists do. There are enough programs, either free or proprietary, to satisfy anyone’s needs. Whether a person hopes to add mind maps as a function in their daily business and task management, wants to use such software in an educational capacity, or wants a program that creates mind maps but has a collaborative wiki aspect, there is some type of specialized mind map software available to do just what is needed.
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Tags: mind mapping application, mind mapping techniques, mind mapping training, mind tools, visual thinking
