What is a mind map ?

A mind map is a diagram that represents information in a web arranged around one central idea.

example of a mind map created with the software FreeMind (GNU GPL)

What difference with other information diagrams (eg. concept maps) ?

In a mind map one idea is the seed of the whole diagram. It is well fitted for representing hierarchical information (eg. a PC and its sub-components, a project and its milestones) where it is possible to identify one idea as the origin of all the information.

For less hierarchical information, a concept map might be more useful.

How does Objectwiz uses the principles of mind mapping ?

Objectwiz aims at providing a graphical representation of the information that is suited for any datamodel. The diagram representation has been chosen because it was found the most natural to end-users (because it gives a graphical representation of an idea in its relation with the rest of the information). This choice makes the user interfaces generated by Objectwiz look like the user interfaces of mind map softwares.

For most data-models, the hierarchical structure of a mind map is not appropriate. Nevertheless, for the period of time a user focuses on one piece of information, we can consider that this information is the center of the information and create a mind map from it.

In Objectwiz, the piece of data which the user focuses on is put in the center of an ellipse. The related objects are then distributed on the ellipse.

Therefore a mind map with one level of depth is created every time the user select a new piece of data.

Links of reference :

• Wikipedia article on Mind map
• Wikipedia article on Concept map