The Evolution of Mind Mapping:
How iMindMap is helping to realise Mind Mapping's full potential
17th April 2007
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Mind Mapping is a powerful, visual thinking technique that provides the key to unlocking the potential of the brain.
Developed by Tony Buzan in the late 1960s, Mind Mapping has achieved immense global popularity through its varied application
in the fields of education and business and in supporting personal development. Until recently, Mind Mapping was primarily a
paper-based thinking tool as technology had not been adequately capable of simulating the natural thinking processes of the
human brain. Lately, the Buzan Organisation has successfully produced a solution which combines the concept of Mind Mapping
with the power of technology – iMindMap™. iMindMap™ is the first software in history that fully captures the associative,
organic nature of human thought.
Developing iMindMap™
By using software to facilitate Mind Mapping, the technique can be extended far beyond its traditional capabilities, creating an
explosion in creativity, innovation and knowledge sharing. The main premise behind the creation of iMindMap™ is that it would enable
users to create truly personal, organic Mind Maps without restricting the thinking process in any way. Forcing users to work within
a rigid framework or allowing the software to control the design of the map would go against everything the Buzan Organisation has
researched about how the brain works. The process of creating maps should be unique and personal to the user for there to be
maximum benefits.
Tony Buzan comments:
“It’s the only Mind Mapping® software that allows you to reproduce the process of thinking creatively, where the
computer doesn’t ‘lead’ your thoughts. With iMindMap™, you can use your computer to duplicate accurately the infinite visual
variety, portability and freedom of my long-established, highly proven Mind Mapping® techniques.”
Mind Mapping in the information age
One of the disadvantages of computer generated, linear looking maps is that they do not usually express the creativity of
colourful, hand-drawn maps. iMindMap™ works with the brain’s natural way of thinking by enabling users to intuitively create
beautiful, organic Mind Maps that incorporate all of the basic principles of Tony Buzan’s widely acclaimed Mind Mapping
technique.
It can be used as a completely blank slate for capturing, organising and sharing information and ideas for a variety of
applications. In a world that is increasingly electronic and where fast production, learning and information sharing is of
supreme importance, using iMindMap™ to facilitate Mind Mapping in this way can enable its full potential to be realised.
Electronically produced Mind Maps can be exported into other applications to be delivered and shared in the format that best
meets the need of the intended audience. In addition, iMindMap™ can overcome any practical difficulties associated with
creating and using Mind Maps in a hand-to-paper manner. For example, Mind Maps can be easily modified for changing circumstances
or requirements, providing users with complete flexibility and saving valuable time generating new Mind Maps.
The future of Mind Mapping
Although millions of people have already been exposed to Tony Buzan’s Mind Mapping technique, the launch of iMindMap™ represents
an outstanding way to effectively deploy the benefits of Mind Mapping in the modern information age. Encapsulated in a software
format, Mind Mapping can go further to stake its position as the most advanced thinking tool for any task.