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Software for mindmapping and
information organisation
Vic's compendium of software that supports knowledge management and information organisation in graphical form. Includes mind mappers, concept mappers, outliners, hierarchical organisers, KM support and knowledge browsers, 2D and 3D.More...
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| From:
AT&T (originally)
Product:
GraphViz Added:
2007-04-16
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19 |
| What they say: |
"
Graph visualization is a way of representing structural information as diagrams of abstract graphs and networks. Automatic graph drawing has many important applications in software engineering, database and web design, networking, and in visual interfaces for many other domains.
Graphviz is open source graph visualization software. It has several main graph layout programs. It also has web and interactive graphical interfaces, and auxiliary tools, libraries, and language bindings.
The Graphviz layout programs take descriptions of graphs in a simple text language, and make diagrams in several useful formats such as images and SVG for web pages, Postscript for inclusion in PDF or other documents; or display in an interactive graph browser. (Graphviz also supports GXL, an XML dialect.)
Graphviz has many useful features for concrete diagrams, such as options for colors, fonts, tabular node layouts, line styles, hyperlinks, and custom shapes.
In practice, graphs are usually generated from an external data sources, but they can also be created and edited manually, either as raw text files or within a graphical editor.
(Graphviz was not intended to be a Visio replacement, so it is probably frustrating to try to use it that way.)" |
| Observations: |
Graph Visualization Software. See also 'Tomboy mindmap'. This requires considerable technical knowledge to use but is extremely flexible, as the gallery at http://www.graphviz.org/Gallery.php shows |
| Where: |
http://www.graphviz.org/ |
| OS: |
Linux, Mac |
| Price: |
Free (open source) |
| Categories: |
concept maps, diagramming, visual organizer |
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| From:
Austhink Software Pty Ltd.
Product:
Rationale Added:
2007-07-07
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20 |
| What they say: |
"
Rationale(tm) is the first high-quality software for argument mapping, the diagramming of reasoning and argument.
Rationale(tm) helps:
Professionals handle complex reasoning and decision making more effectively. Students learn the fundamentals of good reasoning, critical thinking, and argumentative essay writing.
A good map clarifies and organizes thinking by showing the logical relationships between thoughts that are expressed simply and precisely.
Argument maps are driven by asking, 'Should I believe that? Why, or why not?'.
You can produce two kinds of argument maps in RationaleTM:
1. Reasoning maps, which lay out arguments in a quick, intuitive way
2. Analytic maps, which enable a more careful and rigorous analysis of an argument." |
| Observations: |
The site defines and argument map as 'box-and-line diagrams that lay out visually reasoning and evidence for and against a statement or claim.'
When Austhink released bCursive there was some discussion about their differences on the Rationale Google Group. The company responded in this way: "bCisive is intended for the 'professional' or workplace market and is oriented towards business decision making. Rationale is being repositioned as a purely educational product, focusing on reasoning, argument and critical thinking.
In bCisive, you'll find much stronger support for decision making (inc. the "decision summary" which automatically generates the rationale behind decisions), for formatting of maps, and for communicating with others. Also, a lot of work has gone into making it even more easy to use.
Somebody whose main interest is using this kind of tool in the workplace, specifically for decisions, will find bCisive a much more suitable tool. But somebody who is interested in teaching the fundamentals of reasoning and critical thinking will find Rationale more suitable." |
| Where: |
http://www.austhink.com/rationale/ |
| OS: |
Windows |
| Price: |
$199; (Educational $49.00) |
| Categories: |
argument maps, belief networks |
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| From:
Austhink Software Pty Ltd.
Product:
bCisive Added:
2008-09-15
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21 |
| What they say: |
"
Software for business decision making and diagramming.
bCisive is ... specifically for Business Decision Mapping. Structure and visualize your thinking, create organized diagrams, and be more confident in your business decisions.
- Build and communicate compelling business cases
- Make informed, considered decisions
- Share your thinking, get consensus and take action
- Collaborate and increase your workplace productivity
- Document the reasoning behind decisions, and improve knowledge management" |
| Observations: |
Austhink is the publisher of Rationale, and there was some discussion about their differences on the Rationale Google Group. The company responded in this way: "bCisive is intended for the 'professional' or workplace market and is oriented towards business decision making. Rationale is being repositioned as a purely educational product, focusing on reasoning, argument and critical thinking.
In bCisive, you'll find much stronger support for decision making (inc. the "decision summary" which automatically generates the rationale behind decisions), for formatting of maps, and for communicating with others. Also, a lot of work has gone into making it even more easy to use.
Somebody whose main interest is using this kind of tool in the workplace, specifically for decisions, will find bCisive a much more suitable tool. But somebody who is interested in teaching the fundamentals of reasoning and critical thinking will find Rationale more suitable." |
| Where: |
http://bcisive.austhink.com/get-bcisive |
| OS: |
Windows |
| Price: |
AUD349 |
| Categories: |
argument maps, concept maps, decision charts, logic trees |
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 Articles
Whether you have vegetable or royal aspirations, I can confirm that you'll find mindmapping a great way of calming yourself down when you have many calls on your time, ideas buzzing round your head and objectives to meet. But it must fit your own personal style of thinking, and you must set aside the time to do it! That's how I bust stress, not by mapping out my stressful times. But we're all different, and maybe this will work for you. [Vic]
To each individual reader, mindmap topics don't come much bigger than this -- on the personal level, anyway. [Vic]
This piece sets out what seems to me to be a novel use for mindmapping: Staffing a project, functional unit or department. It is a good illustration of the flexibility of the mindmapping approach. I often use mindmapping in drawing up job specifications and candidate profiles, but not quite in the way described here. I think I'll give it a try. [Vic]
Here is another slant on getting your writing going -- research and a dash of mindmapping. [Vic]
There's only a brief mention of mindmapping here, but it's obviously important to the author. Anyway, to me it's a great article on getting moving with writing. I hope you find it so, too. [Vic]
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