Mind versus tree navigation; html versus rtf editing

Posted by Cassius
Mar 20, 2007 at 07:33 AM

I said, “When I look at a mind map graphic, the first thing that comes to mind is “scatter brained.” I have used structured diagrams to explicate processes that are difficult to follow when described using only text.”

Steve Diamond replied, I’m not sure I follow. You like structured diagrams for complex processes but dislike mindmaps? Are you saying mindmaps are insufficiently structured?”

Yes, the mind maps I’ve seen have been like the fluff you refer to—hardly any structure. One might as well put the nodes in a list.

I do not use structured diagrams for my own use, except when I am presented with one (say, from a contractor) and go through it to be sure it is logical and complete. I use structured diagrams to explicate, for others, processes that would be difficult to convey with text. For example, I used Inspiration to create an aviation “Benefit Estimation - Accident Analysis Process”
for estimating the impact of a proposed accident/fatality “product.” As I developed the process,I seem instinctively to know what to do.

I use PIMs basically as a memory tool: To collect information from outside sources and to remind myself of ideas, etc. I’ve thought of, but which my brain may later have mislaid. If I were to liken my mind to a computer, I would say that the processor runs rather well, but the hard drive has a mis-aligned read head and some bad surface spots. A PIM is my hard drive crutch.

Steve D: If you wish to see this diagram, I’ll email it to you in Word 2000 or RTF format, if you send a request to my “Chock-Full-of-Spam” email address:

. Please send the request within 2 days or it will become hidden under all the new spam.

-c