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Ideal online mind mapping software
  • vicforumvicforum
    There is one perfect on line mapper.  It does everything I want, and everything you want.  

    Do you know which one it is?  

    Nor do I.  It doesn't exist yet, but I'd like the community of on-line mappers to put their ideas together so that a description of this ideal web app exists.  There are many publishers building web apps for mapping.  Some of them are very good.  But none is the ideal app.  And a crowd-sourced description will act as a stimulus. 

    What would you ideal online mind mapping software look like?  What would it allow you to do?

    Here's my starting point (I wish this forum software - Vanilla - allowed me to embed a map!!):
    • It should allow simultaneous collaboration
    • it should maintain a history of changes and allow reverting to former states
    • it should run in a browser - all the common, recent browsers
    • it should be capable of being run on an iPad and other tablets (i.e. no Flash)
    • appearance . . .
    • it should make it easy to change colours and shading of individual nodes and whole branches
    • it should make it easy to change text with rich formatting (colour, bold, etc) on individual nodes and whole branches
    • it should support varied background colours, shading and patterns
    • it should offer users the choice of automatic layout or manual arrangement (but there's an issue: when branches are folded, the layout is upset)
    • it should allow a choice of straight lines, curved lines or basic organic
    it should be capable of accepting attachments on nodes, links and imagesit should use standard shortcuts for the platform it's running on (Ctrl+C, Cmd+C for copy, for example)it should be able to import FreeMind, Xmind, MindManager and iMindMap files at leastit should allow the import of text for several nodes at once, with text for each node separated by a known character, e.g. selecting a node, then pasting one|two|three would make three child nodes of the selected node. 
    Vic    (@VicGee on Twitter) 
    The master list of mind mapping &
    information management software
  • visualmappervisualmapper
    Good question Vic.
    I do believe though; we may best examine established tools currently available, and ask questions about their usability, design and capabilities.

    The issue with online mapping products is they are extremely mind mapping centric, and don't lend themselves to a more robust expansion of visual formats.

    A few of them are as ugly as hell when they start to develop right in front of your eyes; I won't mention the tools I believe are awful, yet it's very clear the plethora of online information mapping tools may merely be online as a way to simply keep on keeping on.

    The existing tools that have desktop to cloud sync are pretty good.  DropMind gets me all excited, and when they enable a match to the standard 5gig data load for storing attached data, I believe they'll capture a big piece of the cloud mapping pie.

    I do believe though that Mind mapping as a single format (Radiant) isn't enough for the discerning whole brain visual thinker of this portion of the 21st century.

    I would probably add to the list the need for multiple formats (views) that would include but not limit to; Mind maps, Concept maps, Flow charts and Argumentation type of maps.  The other rather interesting new kids on the block are Crystal Mapping and Goalsacape; but IMO the pie chart view is merely another view of a mind map hierarchy.

    Hope my blithering made sense Vic.

    Great thread for sure.

    Wallace Tait
    http://www.visualmapper.org
  • hapattersonhapatterson
    Well Vic,


    I agree with your initial premise that there isn't an ideal on-line mind mapping tool today, and it is partly due to taking varying views at the desktop as well. The two paths or approaches that appeal to me are either:


    Approach #1 - The On-line Mind Mapping product gives me "ALL" of the features I have with their desktop product, and "NONE" of its limitations. Likewise for an iPad App, if I can create it on the iPad I should be able to view it on the iPad once uploaded onto a web page or portal. If I've linked to files, added attachments, inserted images, have colored branches, resize text, resize images, linked to URLs, open URLs inside the application, attach audio clips, and can collaborate on the map via web conferencing tools then I should be able to do that on-line as well The basics of Desktop and iPad 


    - Text that wraps as you resize the topic or wraps around an image in the topic, ability to place the image & text in relation to each other Top, Bottom Right, Left.


    - Collapse/Expand Branches, 


    - Boundary Shapes with ability to change color or shape type

    - Comments, Notes,


    - Resources


    - Relationships


    - Linked Topics


    - Search the Mind Map,


    - Different Views Outline, Map View, Organization Chart, Fishbone (Ishikawa), Context Map, or other


    - Import & Export from a variety of Mind Map Products, at a minimum the standards (OPML, Mind Manager, iMindMap, XMind, FreeMind, etc.)


    -----------------------
    Approach #2 - The On-line Mind Mapping product is final production to share with the world, in which case I 

    want features that enhance my mind map and its usefulness. Everything in Approach #1 plus the following:


    - Revert to previously saved version of Mind Map, and Automatic backups of the Map during the editing process.


    - Collaboration: Simultaneous Collaboration.


    - Collaboration: Invite others to add Topics, linked maps to the Parent Map, Comment on Topics,


    - URLs: The option to embed the object of the URL (ie. YouTube videos that I can watch within a topic, or Amazon links that show the book, DVD or other product that yo've linked to)


    - Google Chart API: Able to embed sparklines, and other chart types from embedded data, or excel data linked to the Mind Map. Think an Online Business Dashboard


    - Social Media Feeds: Twitter or Facebook or other feeds embedded into a mindmap topic

    - Tags: Tag the Topic or Map Central Topics


    - Images: Background Images, Watermarks, Floating Topic Images

    - Photo Library: Access to and ability to embed a photo catalog from Flickr, PhotoBucket, Kodak Share, etc.


    - Prezi Presentation capabilities: Create a path that users walk-through the mindmap, zooming in on topics, features, attachments or linked mindmaps. Ability to save as a video that can be saved to youtube, vimeo, or other tool


    - Video Editing: Animate the exploration of the Mind Map, opening and closing topics, zooming in and out, opening and closing linked mindmaps, adding audio voice or music tracks, creating title credits, closing credits. Choose of embedding the finished product into a webpage or exporting to YouTube or Vimeo video services.


    Since I am personally doing most of my daily mind mapping on the iPad, exchanging with either MindManager or iMindMap on the desktop. The ability to view what I've created on the iPad is essential, for me that means using HTML5 versus a Flash based. There isn't an ideal today but wouldn't it be nice if the on-line mind map included features from: WebBrain.com, Prezi.com, Popplet.com, Webspirationpro.com, Spinscape.com, MindMeister.com, PearlTrees.com, etc. and your favorite desktop or iPad mind map software.


    One final wild thought that hit me was: Hand Drawn Mind Maps: Allow for the insertion of hand-drawn mind map (scanned image or image file), that once the central topic has been identified with a capture tool other topics could be added.


    Cheers,


    Henry Patterson
    (@hapatterson on Twitter)
  • vicforumvicforum
    Henry and Wallace, thank you both for your thoughtful contributions, which you have clearly spent quite some time mulling over.

    Once again I realise how useful it would be if I could embed a wikimap here and we could all build on it together.

    I will consolidate all our thoughts in a combined list later.  Meanwhile, I'll encourage others to chip in to extend the active group.

    Vic
  • roygrubbroygrubb
    Being able to display an interactive mind map on a blog or wiki or any web page is useful, very useful sometimes.  But what I would like to see is less limitation on frame size.  Too many on-line mappers limit frame size as though it was still 1998 and we were all using 800x600 screens.

    I'll give this some more thought, but that's the pet peeve that comes to mind immediately.

    Roy Grubb
  • oliverg2oliverg2
    Try MindMeister. It does pc/mac/ipad/iphone all via the browser (and an app for devices) and from your list I *think* it does everything you want.
  • vicforumvicforum
    Thanks @oliverg2, yes, MindMeister does many of these, but not all.

    What we're trying to do here is to find out what mappers want if given a blank sheet to fill in features so that this eventually forms a source for product designers.

    Vic 
  • visualmappervisualmapper
    There is one perfect on line mapper.  It does everything I want, and everything you want. 

    It's clear by the growing number of online mapping services and freebies; we have an impasse regarding realizing the Ideal online mind mapping software.

    Most of the newer products are adobe air based mirrors of established desktop versions, and it's rather disheartening to see them produce the same old same old mind mapping approach.  The end result of using mapping products, whether they be single format maps like mind mapping or multiple formats like Visual mapping is a more effective information management structure which adds to the monetary bottom line of our organizational business systems.

    This is a good discussion Vic, and I look forward to reading other contributors views and experiences.

    FWIW; I use Comapping as my default online information mapping and file sharing and publishing SaaS product.
  • vicforumvicforum
    Thank you Wallace for this addition to the discussion.  Yes, the Adobe Air (and Flash) dependency is not good in the present state of flux, but HTML5 is not yet well established.  Let's hope that it, or something that stretches across all platforms, becomes the de facto standard.

    Vic
  • visualmappervisualmapper
    Adobe air does in fact stretch across PC and Mac platforms for desktop installs. The synchronization between both desktop and cloud using the products built on Adobe Air is actually rather good. Products such as Comapping, Crystal Mapping and Goalscape work well.

    I won't get into multiple formats versus a single format in this thread, I guess that's for another thread.

    Interestingly enough; I note Seavus DropMind have done a rather excellent job of taking their desktop product into the cloud via Silverlight (why haven't Microsoft grabbed DropMind?).

    Maybe the battlefield has been organized for a struggle between Adobe Air, Silverlight  and the uprising HTML5.

    Does this matter to the users? I don't thing so.  All the user wants is an experience with Information Architecture that will enable productivity in their chosen field using desktop to cloud functionality.
  • vicforumvicforum
    "Adobe air does in fact stretch across PC and Mac platforms". Indeed it does, but it was iOS that I had in mind!

    Vic
  • BjornEgilBjornEgil
    Further on @hapatterson's:
    - Social Media Feeds: Twitter or Facebook or other feeds embedded into a mindmap topic

    I would also like to see the evolution of a mindmap as a source of a social media feed, to allow others to comment on the mindmap.

    Bjørn Egil
  • A question for those who use online mapping software: Are you not concerned that your best commercial ideas will get stolen? Or do you limit your online map use to non-commercial purposes?
  • vicforumvicforum
    I know that many schools use online mapping in the classroom, and they would not be concerned.  But I always have this at the back of my mind, yes. It's a concern for all cloud-based apps when they are used in business.  Gmail immediately comes to mind!

    I'll try to get some response from the on-line mind mapping vendors about what they do to protect the maps.

    Vic    (@VicGee on Twitter) 
    The master list of mind mapping &
    information management software
  • DanDan
    Hi Joe, and thanks Vic for setting up this ideal mind mapping program thread!

    MindMeister is hosted at a Tier III certified data center in Frankfurt, Germany.  We employ multiple firewalls as well as special access controls on the network level to safeguard your maps.  Paid subscribers to MindMeister also receive a 256-bit Secured Socket Layer (SSL) connection, and our Business Account users have the option to back up all creations via an SSH FTP server connection.

    More information about MindMeister's security and privacy policy may be found at: https://www.mindmeister.com/security.
  • DanielDaniel
    Joe, as Vic said this is a concern for all cloud-based apps not just for mindmaps, that's why we have Mindomo Business which you can install to your server and have full control of your online mind mapping.
  • @Vic
    I agree this is a concern for all cloud-based apps, which is why I never reveal commercially valuable information using those apps. I am amazed at how nonchalant many people are about trusting the cloud. Some apps are more dangerous than others in that more information can be quickly compromised. For example, someone might store an entire business plan in a mind map, but that same plan would be much harder to piece together from gmail conversations, though of course, if they are emailing an attached business plan in unencrypted form, all bets are off.

    @Dan
    I appreciate the security that MindMeister has, but my concern is not just external attack, it is also the cloud company employees. And as far as external attack, large credit card companies and other large businesses (e.g., Sony) have had their defenses breached, and I would assume those companies have better defenses than what a small company can muster.

    @Daniel
    Yes, that makes to offer that solution. At the individual level, an online program that saves the data to the user's computer might be another way to go about it. But of course, an installable app that needs no outside connection to function is the ultimate in security, and I hope development of those mind map apps continues.
  • vicforumvicforum
    @Joe
    A few years ago, I worked on a project for a company that sold security software.  It included the development of a business plan for them to move into a new overseas market.  When we started communicating - not using Gmail - I digitally signed and encrypted all emails because they were transiting the Internet, even though not formally residing on cloud servers, and suggested that they do the same.  They never did once. I despaired at this attitude from a company developing and marketing security software where the awareness could be expected to be very high.

    But with the cloud, I agree that it's cloud service providers' employees that are the risk I'm most aware of.

    Vic    (@VicGee on Twitter) 
    The master list of mind mapping &
    information management software
  • vicforumvicforum
    @Dan
    Thanks for responding.

    In passing, I'll mention that I like the look of the new version of MindMeister and will be blogging about it soon.

    Vic    (@VicGee on Twitter) 
    The master list of mind mapping &
    information management software
  • vicforumvicforum
    @Daniel 
    Thanks for responding, as well.

    Yes, operating the server internally reduces the risk to the level of any other internally-hosted and controlled process. I'm glad to learn about that possibility.

    I certainly hope that desktop mind mapping software continues to be developed, and is not pushed aside by on-line services, but of course it doesn't offer the all-important collaborative possibilities.

    Vic    (@VicGee on Twitter) 
    The master list of mind mapping &
    information management software
  • DanDan
    @Joe If you're looking for an in-house installation, behind your own firewalls, IT department maintenance, etc., MindMeister also offers this level of service in our Enterprise level package.
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