Innovation at the Frontier

By Chuck Frey

For years, Tony Buzan's company sat on the sidelines of the mind mapping software market, endorsing one program or another over the years. But most of these programs didn’t adhere very closely to his vision of what a mind map should be – a rich, organic creation, full of color and imagery – a unique visual representation of its author's thoughts.

In 2006, the Buzan organization decided to launch its own mind mapping program – iMindMap – with an aim of creating a software environment that would more closely mimic the process of creating hand drawn maps. In 2007, iMindMap 2 was released, and it shows tremendous promise. It delivers on the promise of creating a more organic interface for creating mind maps, while also offering numerous features that should satisfy all but the most demanding businesspeople.

In this "first look" review, we’ll take a look at what makes iMindMap 2 different, and what its unique paradigm means to business users.

The interface

iMindMap 2 offers a simple but well-designed interface. At the top of the workspace is a toolbar, plus commands for formatting topics. Another, smaller vertical toolbar is nestled on the left side of the workspace. At the bottom of the screen, tabs provide fast access to editor, text (outline) and presentation views. Finally, another set of tabs on the right side of the screen provide access to the map navigator and libraries of images and icons. For users of mind mapping software, this interface should be quite familiar, adhering to many of the de facto standards that developers in this software genre tend to follow. But don’t let that fool you: Lurking just beneath the surface is a unique, powerful, organic mapping experience just waiting to break free.

Creating a map

When you first open iMindMap 2, you’re greeted by a dialog box, which asks you to select an image to surround the central idea of your mind map. You can choose one of the recommended images, or browse your computer for another one that is suitable to your purpose. iMindMap then places your central idea in the middle of the screen.

To add a topic, you simply hover over the central topic, and a red dot called a “control point” appears. Next, you drag your mouse from this dot outward to create a branch, and type in your topic text. By default, the program opens in mind mapping mode, which creates organic, flowing topic lines – each one automatically colored differently. You can also insert new branches quickly using a keyboard shortcut – nice! A branch can be reshaped by clicking and dragging on its control points; additional control points can be added to give you even finer control over your branch shapes.

A SpeedMapping mode is also available, which makes it possible to quickly add ideas, but isn’t quite as pleasing to the eye. A branch, when selected, contains several blue dots, which enable you to easily modify its shape. iMindMap creates predefined branch shapes, but you can also switch to a hand-drawn branch mode if you want to get more creative.

Adding subtopics is done in a similar way. If you hover over the end point of a branch, a target-like circle – another control point – appears around it, which indicates you can drag a sub-branch out from it. The whole experience is rather organic, and is very creatively pleasing, compared to clicking the “Insert” key and adding a pre-defined (plain, boring) branch to your map in other mind mapping programs.

Enhancing your map

iMindMap gives you access to an extensive selection of topic icons, plus an online library of nearly one million images, which you can utilize to enhance your map. The program’s image library includes clipart, animated images, photos and 3D objects; you can also add your own images to your maps. What’s nice about the way this is implemented is that all images and icons are free-floating, and can be moved to any position within your mind map. You can also resize and rotate images and icons using your mouse. In addition, you can connect disparate map branches with relationship arrows lines, and can encircle groups of topics using “clouds" – iMindMap’s name for topic borders.

Topics may contain notes, as well as links to web pages and files. iMindMap 2 includes a full-featured word processor that lets you create highly formatted text in the notes window.

When working with topics and subtopics, a right click of your mouse gives you immediate access to a wealth of options for formatting, modifying or enhancing them. It’s nice to see that the developers of iMindMap 2 support this, because there’s nothing more frustrating than having to move your mouse back and forth between the topics in your workspace and a toolbar at the top of the screen, just to accomplish common mapping tasks.

A couple of minor complaints: The icons that are displayed on branches to denote attached notes or links are rather small. At lower screen magnifications, they get a bit hard to see. Also, when I tried to edit the text of a branch, when I double-clicked on the text, nothing happened. It turns out that I need to double-click on the branch to select it and open the edit window. This took a little getting used to, but was manageable.

Notable features

SpeedMapping mode: While the mind mapping mode of iMindMap has been optimized for organic mind maps, SpeedMapping mode is designed to enable you to enter ideas into your map quickly, using only the keyboard. You simply type in the name of your topic and click enter; iMindMap enters that topic outline and automatically opens a new branch to capture your thoughts. SpeedMapping mode also automatically reformats your map as new branches are added, ensuring that your branches stay well-organized. You can easily start out in SpeedMapping mode to quickly get your thoughts on the screen, and then switch over to mind mapping mode to embellish and personalize your map. This operating mode is also ideal for capturing ideas during brainstorming sessions or for taking notes during a meeting. SpeedMapping is new to version 2, and was definitely designed with businesspeople in mind!

Support for the Tablet PC: iMindMap 2 includes a Pen Mode, which enables you to utilize the program on a Tablet PC, with an interactive whiteboard or on a PC with a graphic tablet input device. Creating branches in Pen Mode works much like hand drawing a map; you simply drag away from the currently selected topic and the pen draws a branch. When you hand write the topic text, a pop-up window appears with a list of possible words that the text recognition engine has identified as possible matches for what you have written. The program even gives you the option of displaying larger control points, which make it easier to select them when using a Tablet PC or whiteboard input device. In short, iMindMap’s Pen Mode gets you even closer to the experience of hand writing a mind map!

Outline view: iMindMap 2 includes an outline view, which displays your map’s topics, subtopics and notes in a hierarchical text outline format.

Insert sketch: Recognizing that many users will probably be utilizing iMindMap 2 with some sort of a pen input device, the developers have wisely included an “insert sketch” command in the program. Selecting it opens a separate window, with several pen shape tools, an eraser and a color palette. When you insert a sketch into your map, it can be manipulated just like any image file.

Grid tool: iMindMap 2’s grid tool overlays the program’s workspace with a grid that helps you to position your branches. By selecting the “snap to grid” option, you can ensure that all of your branches have well-aligned end points.

Overview navigation map: This neat feature helps you to find your way when working within a larger map. It is located in a set of tabs on the right side of the workspace. Clicking the navigator tab opens a narrow vertical window next to your workspace, showing a high-level overview of your map, with the part currently displayed in the workspace highlighted in white with a red border.

Presentation view: This operating mode gives you access to some additional commands and toolbar icons that allow you to expand and collapse branches one at a time or one level at a time and to quickly open or linked to any attach documents, media, files or external links.

Powerful keyword search: iMindMap’s search capability not only enables you to search for a specific word within the current map, but you can also do an expanded search that looks for it in all of the mind maps within a specified directory at your computer. Nice!

Thesaurus: If you're looking for just the right word to insert into a branch, iMindMap can help you with its built-in thesaurus. It's unusual to see this capability in a mind mapping software program, but when you stop to think about it, it makes a lot of sense!

Export options: The developer has wisely included a full complement of export options in iMindMap 2, including the ability to export as image, a Word document, a web page, a PDF or a PowerPoint file. In addition, you can copy your mind map or text to a clipboard and past it into another application – which represents a quick and easy way to share part or all of your mind map with others.

Cross-platform compatibility: Because iMindMap 2 is built on Java technology, it can be utilized on Windows-based PCs, Apple Macs and certain versions of Linux.

Conclusion

There’s much to love in iMindMap 2. It offers a wealth of powerful features for business users, while also delivering a very organic mapping experience that is unlike anything I’ve experienced. It just feels right!

The other thing it gets right is that it enables new users to get up to speed quickly, without presenting a lot of overwhelming options. Yet these "power user" features can be quickly accessed by experienced users utilizing right clicks and the program’s logical drop-down menus.

Version 1 of iMindMap introduced a more organic mind mapping experience to the world. Version 2 added a wealth of features aimed at the needs of business users. It will be fascinating to see where the developers take it from here. I predict a bright future ahead for iMindMap!

iMindMap 2 can be purchased from the program’s website; a single license costs US$115. A 7-day trial download is also available, and is a great way for you to experience the benefits of this unique mind mapping tool firsthand.

Published on 1/14/2008