- A mind map is a tool for the brain that captures the thinking that goes on inside your head. Mind mapping helps you think, collect knowledge, remember and create ideas. Most likely i t will make you a better thinker. Mind maps can be created in.
- We have made mind maps for all kinds of businesses and their purposes. The mindmaps are available at our website in multiple formats like Word, Powerpoint, Pages, Keynote, Docs, Slides, and PDF. Easily access and customize the sample information to create your required mindmap and get the chart ready without starting from scratch!
The first edition of “The Mind Map Book” appeared in 1995. Twelve years later, in 2007, the first completely web-based mind map tool was released. This tool was MindMeister, which quickly became the number one mind mapping software on the web. Mind maps are an exception to this. It's really up to the user to create a mind map that suits their mind's eye. The most basic way to create a mind map is with a pen and paper or a whiteboard. While this is a cheap way to create a mind map, it also has drawbacks, particularly for business people.
Mind Mapping
A mind map is a tool for the brain that captures the thinking that goes on inside your head. Mind mapping helps you think, collect knowledge, remember and create ideas. Most likely it will make you a better thinker.
Mind maps can be created in many different ways, but they share the same basics:
Central theme
A central theme is placed in the centre of a blank page. This is the title, the subject, a problem or just a thought. When thinking of something images automatically take form in your head. For example the image of a “colorful bunch of balloons” when thinking of “birthday”.
Associations
From the central theme associations radiate out. Associations directly from the central theme are called first level associations. Then second level associations are created, third level and so on. The brain thinks by imagination and association. When associations are created, connections are made. These connections are essential for remembering and thinking.
Fig.2 Central theme & associations
Curved lines
Associations are often drawn as curved lines. They are curved rather than straight, because the brain likes curves.
Fig.3 Curved lines guide the eyes smoothly from one association to the next
Mind Map Ideas
Keywords
Mind maps summarize information. Instead of sentences, ideally only single keywords are used. A single word per association gives more freedom, creativity and clarity.
Mind Mapping Techniques
Fig 5. Sentences are difficult to read and only a very limited number of associations can be made
Mind Mapping Software
Proximity
Mind Mapping Tools
The length of a word ideally matches the length of a curved line. That causes associated words tobe in close proximity.
Fig 7. Words that are far apart are disconnected
7 associations
A mind map can have many first level associations, but the mind can only grasp about a maximum of 7.
Mind Mapping
Fig. 9 Too many associations create chaos
Mind Map
Color & images
Mind Map Online
The use of color is important in the mind map. Research shows that people who use color and images in their imagination, when they are learning, are better in remembering than those who don’t.
Fig.10 In the mind map images are used like keywords. The key image is a picture; a picture is worth a thousand words!