Head in the clouds
June 9, 2011 10:47 AM Subscribe
Needs organizational tools to find organizational tools...
So I know there is this system where you can draw a circle, label it, then link lines from that circle to other circles, organizing thoughts and ideas. I thought this was called a "cloud", but when searching, "cloud" is now just a mass of off-site storage. Does anyone know what I'm referencing, and if there are any online or free applications of this type of tool?
So I know there is this system where you can draw a circle, label it, then link lines from that circle to other circles, organizing thoughts and ideas. I thought this was called a "cloud", but when searching, "cloud" is now just a mass of off-site storage. Does anyone know what I'm referencing, and if there are any online or free applications of this type of tool?
Or wireframing. My SO uses OmniGraffle to do hers.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:59 AM on June 9, 2011
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:59 AM on June 9, 2011
You may also remember brainstorming for middle school essays using bubble maps. The topic is written in the center of the page and circled. The [3] main ideas are written around it, boxed, and attached to the circles with line. The supporting details for each main idea are written around them, often without a shape around them.
These are all variations of the same sort of "graphic organizer."
posted by jander03 at 11:48 AM on June 9, 2011
These are all variations of the same sort of "graphic organizer."
posted by jander03 at 11:48 AM on June 9, 2011
Mind mapping. If you're on a mac you could try MindNode. They have both a free and a paid version.
posted by Homo economicus at 1:18 PM on June 9, 2011
posted by Homo economicus at 1:18 PM on June 9, 2011
I spent some time evaluating various free mind-mapping/diagramming software a while back, and liked Freeplane the most. It's an offshoot of Freemind (mentioned by Drama Penguin) but I found it easier to use/edit the nodes compared to the other titles I tried. Like Freemind, Freeplane is free, open-source software and will run anywhere that supports Java (Windows, OS X, Linux).
For more options, here's a list of concept-mapping and mind-mapping software on Wikipedia -- it includes web-based ones as well.
You might also find the mind-mapping.org site helpful. e.g. it has a nice comparison of web-based mind-mapping software. There's also a category page for just free software (I found these category pages a little confusing at first -- for each screenshot/entry, click on the red icon with the white down-arrow in the upper-right corner to see a preview of the software's name and description; otherwise click on the little white circle with the black arrow to get to the entry's full page).
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 7:55 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
For more options, here's a list of concept-mapping and mind-mapping software on Wikipedia -- it includes web-based ones as well.
You might also find the mind-mapping.org site helpful. e.g. it has a nice comparison of web-based mind-mapping software. There's also a category page for just free software (I found these category pages a little confusing at first -- for each screenshot/entry, click on the red icon with the white down-arrow in the upper-right corner to see a preview of the software's name and description; otherwise click on the little white circle with the black arrow to get to the entry's full page).
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 7:55 PM on June 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by Drama Penguin at 10:52 AM on June 9, 2011