Mind versus tree navigation; html versus rtf editing

Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Mar 19, 2007 at 10:06 PM

Cassius wrote:
>Both Steve D and Alex D have suggested that non-visual thinkers might benefit most
>from using mind maps. Not me! When I look at a mind map graphic, the first thing that
>comes to mind is “scatter brained.” I have used structured diagrams to explicate
>processes that are difficult to follow when described using only text. Text tries to
>show some order /structure through the use of commas, dashes, quote marks,
>parentheses, brackets, braces, etc. {[(” ‘—,,—’ ” ,)]}}, but this doesn’t work
>very well for complex descriptions {;-)

I’m not sure I follow. You like structured diagrams for complex processes but dislike mindmaps? Are you saying mindmaps are insufficiently structured?

I know I’ve seen many mindmaps that seem like fluff. What I think is important in an analytic mindmap is the same as in any structured diagram. I find there are pre-conditions for using them. You need to have enough faimiliarity with he information that you can represent complex ideas by simple phrases. Basically, I find that mindmapping is a tool for loading short term memory with a lot of information. It presupposes that you have already chunked the material by some other means.