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Tony Buzan is the man who got the whole concept of mind maps going in the late twentieth century. His first mind mapping tool would of course have come in book form, and he also conducted workshops to teach people his methods and to certify others to teach them as well. But in the last two or three decades, computers and the internet have exploded into popularity, so the next stage of instruction was clearly to develop brainstorming software that was based on these methods. Many developers did just that as the century turned, but eventually Buzan himself brought out his own program.

This mindmap software, called “iMindMap,” was created by a developer named Chris Griffiths, and is now found on the website of the same name (www.imindmap.com). Buzan worked together on the program with Griffiths, so that this mind mapping tool would embody his emphasis on a right-brain approach. Griffiths agreed with Buzan that computer technology should enhance rather than diminish people’s thinking abilities, and he worked hard to reproduce the mind map style previously found only on hand-drawn pages.

Early reviews of the program were positive. What most people remarked upon was the “organic” nature of this mind mapping tool. It really seemed to leave behind the boxes and straight lines of other programs, and reproduced the flow and even colors people used when creating their own mind maps on whiteboards or note paper. Command buttons were clear, tabs allowed users to switch to editor, presentation and the more traditional outline views, and a drop-and-drag method of creating new branches from a central topic seemed to mimic the method of making a visual map by hand drawing.

With the latest beta release of “iMindMap” version 3, the mind mapping tool appears to keep getting better and better. Whereas business people had complained that the original bright colors and free flowing branches appeared too “cartoon-like” to use in meetings, now they can change to a more traditional flow chart style. Buzan and Griffiths have added other enhancements and options in response to the needs of users as well. Rather than fall in love with this mindmap software for its own sake, they continue tweaking it so it serves its real purpose, which is to help users understand information in a more organic way.

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