ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY BLOG | INVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker for this webinar, An Inside Look at MindManager 7 Mac, and to share how I am using Mindjet MindManager in the classes that I teach at the graduate level in assistive technology. If you are not familiar with MindManager you can preview the recorded webinar and find out about all of its new features on the Macintosh which I really enjoy. You will be able to view some of the mind maps that I have created and find out how I use it when I teach. You can also download the mind maps that were used on the webinar and if you don't own Mindjet MindManager you can download a trial version form the Mindjet website. You should also know that there is a version of MindManager for Windows as well and there file compatibility. Enjoy the webinar!

The MindMeister Team shared this update with me which I thought you would find interesting. MindMeister is an online application that allows you to do mindmapping right within your browser With each update the program adds more and more functionality. One of the really powerful features is the ability to share your mind maps and collaborate with other people over the web. Check it out and tell me what you think.

What's New in MindMeister

* Links on ideas

Support for internal (between maps, or also to individual nodes) and external (websites, email addresses) links on ideas

* Automatic layouter

No more overlapping ideas and branches with the new auto layouter - can also be triggered manually on "messed up" maps by pressing F8
* Note and link previews

Notes and links on ideas can now be previewed by hovering over the respective icon, including site previews
* Reworked, more organic lines

We've changed the line drawing mechanism so that mind maps now hopefully look more organic. The poll in the last newsletter went in favor of the slightly rounded lines (with about 40%)
* Automatic canvas resizing

The map canvas will automatically resize to the size of the map, e.g. on import of large maps or when adding lots of ideas
* Changes view date slider

In changes mode the footer will display a date slider that you can use to constrain the time period for which changes are shown. Clicking on links in notification mails will only highlight changes since your last visit.
* Start new map from idea

You can quickly create new maps from ideas through the right-click menu, and the new map can automatically be linked to the current one
* Export as PDF

The map canvas will automatically resize to the size of the map, e.g. on import or when adding many ideas
* Enhanced printing

Choose whether you want to print in full size or fit to page, and with open or closed branches
* Browse public maps

You can now browse, search and view all public maps on MindMeister - let us know which ones you like through the good old star rating system!
* and much more...

If you are using Mindjet MindManager for project management then you will want to take a look at their current release of the Project Management Jetpack. The Project Management Jetpack consists of a White Paper on how to use MindManager Pro to get the most out of jumpstarting your projects with MindManager. Additionally, Mindjet’s Project Management Jetpack includes 19 templates that will help you:
* Prepare a business case
* Gather project requirements
* Collaborate on scope
* Identify project risks and issues
* Present project status
* Develop project checklists

Project Management Jetpack is available directly from Mindjet, Inc.

Being able to visually see the links between ideas and information is a very powerful tool as we search the Internet. Using a very familiar mind mapping metaphor, TouchGraph has developed a visual search engine that can display the network of connectivity between websites as reported by Google's database. I tried it out by typing "web 2.0" into the search field and what resulted was a set of web sites that were interconnected and laid out very much like mind maps. Clicking on any one of the website brings up additional information in the left pane. You can use TouchGraph with Facebook, Google, and Amazon to do a search. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Gideon King, the developer of NovaMind Mind Mapping application has released a wonderful resource for educators who are using mind mapping in the classroom. The book is visually very appealing and the content will certainly help teachers to think about how they can use mind mapping effectively in the classroom across the curriculum. A Teacher's Guide to Mind Mapping is generously packed with beautifully printed mind maps in full color and clearly shows the power of this tool for students. As someone who is a specialist in working with students with disabilities, I have been a real advocate of the power of these tools with students with a range of learning disabilities. Mr. King in his book talks about the advantages of mind mapping and how it can facilitate memory, comprehension, and learning in the classroom. Mr. King illustrates the many ways that mind mapping can be used across the curriculum and the power of using visuals to address the needs of students with varying learning styles. If you are new to mind mapping or need some new ideas of how to use mind mapping technique and strategies then you will want to pick up a copy of Teacher's Guide to Mind Mapping.

As I use MindManager Pro 7 from Mindjet Inc., more and more, in the work that I do, I have found it to be an excellent tool to help me organize and keep information that I use in one spot. The power in the tool from my perspective is that it allows me to quickly see my ideas and to organize them the way I see fit. Having the freedom to move my ideas around frees me up to allow my ideas to flow without the need to know exactly where the idea fits in. After looking at one of my mind maps I can always go back and change things without being concerned about the structure. As I use use MindManager Pro 7, I am always looking for new ways to extend this powerful tool for the projects that I am working on. Having said that, I have begun to use MindManager Pro 7 with project management software to help me get a different perspective on the tasks and timelines.

Mindjet Inc., has done a wonderful job of creating a product that is extensible so that other companies can develop applications that take advantage of the ideas that have been captured in MindManager Pro 7. I recently had the opportunity to preview from AEC Software, FastTrack Schedule 9.2 which is a comprehensive standalone project management software application that is cross-platform and runs on the Windows and Macintosh platform. Having just begun to use FastTrack Schedule 9.2 myself, I found it an ideal tool for someone who is just getting their feet wet in project management. The program is very visual and intuitive and provides users a quick way to jump start their project by using on of the many templates and example files that are available.

Since I am a MindManager Pro 7 user, I was really interested to see how FastTrack Schedule 9.2 could be integrated into my workflow. As MindManager Pro 7 becomes entrenched in the business and educational marketplace other publishers are looking for ways to marry the programs together. In this respect, AEC Software has really done an excellent job of being able to take data from MindManager Pro 7, and bring it into FastTrack Schedule 9.2 to do the project management. While MIndManager Pro 7 is an excellent tool for brainstorming and communicating ideas it does not have all of the tools to do project management and this is where a program like FastTrack Schedule 9.2 comes in. MindManager Pro 7 is an ideal tool for doing your brainstorming, putting your task lists together and assigning resources, however when you want to look at your project over time then you need a true project management software application. One of the really nice things about using these two applications together is that the work that you initially had done on the project can be exported from MindManager Pro 7 and brought effortlessly into FastTrack Schedule 9.2. FastTrack Schedule 9.2 can import any MindManager document and bring in all of the data that was stored within the MindManager map. If you used the Task Information pane to assign a Start Date, Due Date, Duration, Resource, and Percent Completion to a task all of this data comes over when you import your MindManager mind map into FastTrack Schedule 9.2. When I was working with my MindManager Pro 7 project file I also had included relationships among different tasks and I was glad to find out that these relationships were also carried over into FastTrack Schedule 9.2. For individuals who are just getting started with project management having the on ramp of a program like MindManager Pro 7 really can kick start your projects which can be polished off with FastTrack Schedule 9.2. Click here to view video.

One of the real strengths of FastTrack Schedule 9.2 is it ease of use and the interface. I particularly enjoyed the Gantt Chart view which allows you to see a list of your tasks and the duration in days, weeks, or hours that tasks will take. FastTrack Schedule 9.2 allows you to directly access the data and so if a you need to change a task duration you simply take your mouse place it on task bar and drag the task bars right border to the right to extend the task duration. You can also decide to draw task bars using the Draw bars tool, thus eliminating the need to enter Start and Duration information into a dialog box. However, FastTrack Schedule 9.2 allows you to enter task information as you see fit, so if you more comfortable using a dialog box to enter the information you can do so. The Gantt View is gives you a great overview of the project and makes for a great way to present and communicate the information. The Gantt View also allows you to look at the project to see if there are any obstacles and whether things need to be adjusted in order for the project to be delivered on time. The Gantt View also can show you milestones as well as a way to track the percent completed of each task along with the assigned resource. The Gantt View also allows you to quickly look at how your activity bars are linked and their dependencies. FastTrack Schedule 9.2 quickly lets you see the impact of making a change on one activity and watching how that ripples through your project. Linking activities is accomplished very quickly with the Draw Link tool. You simply click on the Draw Link tool and then click on the activities. FastTrack Schedule 9.2 supports four different dependency types: Finish to Start, Start to Start, Finish to Finish, and Start to Finish. You will find the FastTrack Schedule 9.2, Gantt view a great tool for communicating your projects, and if you would like you can add graphics, text and legends to the Gantt View to spruce up the document.

While having a timetable for your project is the first step in the project management cycle you will also need to get a handle on how resources are being allocated. Using the Resources view gives you a great overview of how your resources are being used and if you will need to make adjustments in the scheduling in order to accomplish your desired outcomes. The Resources View can quickly tell you if you have over allocated a resource which in that case you will need to make some decisions about hiring more people or delaying the project. All of this information is at your finger tips and a great guide as you move through the project. For those users who are new to project management FastTrack Schedule 9.2 also has a Calendar view which displays the information in a monthly calendar view which makes sharing the project information easier for those who are not accustomed to reading a Gantt chart.

When all is said and done, FastTrack Schedule 9.2 is a very easy on ramp for individuals who are just beginning to use project management software but one that can grow with them as they develop their expertise. The program is very fluid and one that allows you to jump into. FastTrack Schedule 9.2 uses standard Windows and Macintosh conventions which enables you to be up and running very quickly. When it is time to share your project there are lots of ways to do so. FastTrack Schedule 9.2 now supports the data exchange format known as iCalendar (.ics) enabling you to view project data in a calendar form. If you are using a Macintosh and have a .Mac account you can publish your Calendar view with a click of the mouse and view it on the web or if you like you can export your views in a picture format (ie. jpeg, pdf, png,) for use with PowerPoint or Keynote. You can even export the data from Fastrack Schedule 9.2 back into MindManager if you would like.

From my standpoint, FastTrack Schedule 9.2 really extends the usefulness of MindManager Pro 7 and allows me to delve into project management at level that I am comfortable with. FastTrack Schedule 9.2 is a very approachable cross platform project management software that shines in its ease of use, its presentation capabilities, and it is price point. If you are using MindManager Pro 7 and want to take the stab into project management software then take a look at FastTrack Schedule 9.2-it has a lot going for it.

I have had a chance to use the PersonalBrain 4 on the Macintosh and have really enjoyed playing around with it. The PersonalBrain 4 is a wonderful visual repository for ideas, attachments, web links, spreadsheets, and calendar events. Its forte is really the ability to link or associate the various "thoughts" that you have into one single repository. Additionally, the PersonalBrain 4 has unique indexing capability that allows you to find information almost instantaneously. The PersonalBrain 4 indexes all of your information in addition to your attachments (ie. Word, PDF, Excel) , which makes it easy to go to one place to find what you are looking for. Making associations between ideas is very easy and intuitive in the PersonalBrain 4. I have put online a small video to give you an idea of how the PersonalBrain 4 works on the Macintosh. As I use it I will put up some other short videos. The PersonalBrain 4 is an ideal personal information manager for those of you who like to be able to visually organize your information. To view the video click here or on the screenshot.

Last week I attended the DigitalLife Press Preview and had a chance to watch and speak to the representatives from Picnik.com. By using your browser and going to Picnik.com you are provided with a full set of editing tools that are very easy to use. With so many people using digital cameras the developers of Picnik realized that they need and easy way to edit them. Once you upload your photograph you will find it easy to crop, remove red eye, sharpen, rotate, or auto-fix your photo. You can upload your photographs from your computer or from the following services: Flickr, Picassa, FaceBook. Take a look at Picknik I'm sure you will find it to be a valuable tool in your software kit.

Gideon King recently emailed me about the release of NovaMind 4 for the Macintosh, one of the premier mind mapping applications on the Macintosh platform . Sporting a whole new interface users should find it easier to format and work with NovaMind 4. There are two new versions that were released NovaMind 4 Pro and NovaMind Express. Here is a screen shot of a mind map. A new Windows version is in the works as well.

I had the opportunity to get a preview of new application called Jing, from the makers of Camtasia Studio and it is really awesome. Think about all of the times that you want to grab a picture of something on your screen and send it to someone that you may be IMing. Or say you want to quickly show someone how to use a feature in a software application and want to do a quick screencast. If you have ever been in this situation then you need to take a look at Jing. Jing is a software and sharing tool that is available for Mac and Windows which lets you share pictures and videos very quickly. The Jing application is always available and with a user defined hot key you can get it started. Once you have grabbed a screen image or recorded a video you are immediately given a URL that is copied to the clipboard to use. The images and videos are stored on your Screencast account that you will be prompted to create the first time you use Jing. This is a very handy utility and one that I know I will be using often in the work that I do. It is a great tool for Just in Time training. Here is an example of what you can do with Jing.

TheBrain Technologies LP, released The PersonalBrain 4.0 for Macintosh, Windows, and Linux today. The PersonalBrain 4.0 is a visual management software application that allows you to relate information precisely as you want to. It works by allowing you to capture your thoughts and then associating them in a web structure. The program uses the construct "thoughts" which are ideas that you type into the PersonalBrain. Once you type your "thought" you can add a "parent," "child," "sibling" or jump thought to your idea. This in effect lets you categorize your ideas and move about your map.

The major difference between this application and mind mapping tools is that underneath the hood is a relational database that is keeping your thoughts, links, and associated files organized and arranged according to the way you desire. Imagine clicking on a category and watch as the program bring up all of the thoughts and links. The program lets you really drill down and capture and store an incredible amount of information. You can attach files, images, web links, notes to your web and have The PersonalBrain index and keep the information at your finger tips. I found the program to be very responsive on both the Macintosh and Windows platform and will be trying it out some more over the next couple of weeks to see how I can use it to construct some knowledge databases. The PersonalBrain 4 has extensive Search feature that lets you quickly locate information in your knowledge database. Once you create your visual management system you can click on a "thought" and jump to the information. You can export your PersonalBrain files as a SiteBrain website or as simple HTML. You can also print your PersonalBrain (Pro version) over multiple pages. Some of the features may vary depending on the version of the PersonallBrain that you are using.

Thanks to Vicki Davis for sharing this site. Over the years I have enjoyed using Visual Thesaurus and watching the interconnections being made for the words that I entered into the application. Now Visuwords can do the same thing and it is free. Just entera word and click on the Enter key and off it goes to cresate a web with the word. If you enjoy using mind mapping application you will enjoy seeing your words come to life in the web.

Visuwords™ uses Princeton University’s WordNet, an opensource database built by University students and language researchers. Combined with a visualization tool and user interface built from a combination of modern web technologies, Visuwords™ is available as a free resource to all patrons of the web.

Logitech announced two new products at the DigitalLife Press Preview yesterday that I though you would be interested in. The first product is a new webcam called the Quickcam Pro 9000. Here are some of its features:

• Carl Zeiss® optics: Get more detail and clarity from Carl Zeiss® optics. Logitech’s glass lens designed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss®, the global leader in camera optics.
• Premium autofocus: Your images stay razor-sharp, even in close-ups.
• HD video: Video calling and sharing has never looked so real at 960 by 720 pixels.
• Higher megapixel performance: A true two-megapixel sensor. Up to eight-megapixel* photos (enhanced).
• RightLight™2 Technology: Adjusts intelligently to produce the best possible images in dimly lighted or poorly backlighted settings.
• Integrated microphone with RightSound™ Technology: Enjoy crystal clear conversations, free from echo** and annoying background noise.
• Ultra-wide field of view and intelligent face tracking: Keeps you right in the middle of the action.

Logitech also announced the MX Air™ mouse which can be held in the air and used without the need to have it on a desk. It is designed to be used with a PC home media systems.

Features:

• Laser performance: On your desk, enjoy laser-precise tracking and instant response.
• Freespace™ motion sensing: In the air, use MX Air™ to browse and play your favorite media. The sensor transforms hand motions into natural, responsive cursor controls. Adjust volume by waving to the right or left; skip tracks with a flip of the wrist.
• Scroll panel: Experience hyper-fast scrolling at the touch of a finger—on your desk or in the air.

Having spent the better part of my career in education my first mind mapping tool that I came in contact with was Inspiration. To this day it still remains one of my favorite applications when I am planning or need to organize my ideas. I can recall when I first came across Inspiration how wowed I was to be able to create a mind maps which such ease. Even today being able to use the RapidFire and Auto Arrange feature makes creating a mind map a very easy task. Despite all of the changes and versions, Inspiration remains a relatively easy program to use. While it has it strong roots in education it is certainly a very viable alternative for mind mapping for the business community. While I tend to spend most of the time in the Diagram View (mind mapping) it is nice to know that with a click of the button, I can see my map in the Outline View. I tend to use the Outline View when I want to rearrange my ideas-by simply dragging the idea up or down the Outline View.



Inspiration 8, is a full featured graphic organizer and mind mapping tool which I know will help you think through situations and processes with more clarity. Inspiration 8 adds the ability to search and add graphics from the Inspiration server which is a great way to access clip art and photographic images. If you are working in a school you will be happy to know that all of the clip art and images have been checked and screened for appropriateness. Inspiration makes it very easy to link notes, files, movies, audio, and hyperlinks to an idea to spruce up your mind map. There are lots of ways within Inspiration 8 to format your mind maps to get them to look just the way you want them. If you need to share your mind map it is very easy to do and Inspiration 8 gives you a couple of different way to do it. You can transfer your outline to Microsft Word or Appleworks, with a click of the transfer button. Or if you want to create a PowerPoint slide presentation from your mind map you can also do that to. It is also easy to output your map to a HTML file and put it up on the web. Or if you simply want to share your mind map you can export it as a .gif or .jpeg. file. You will find Inspiration 8 an easy program to master and just in case you need some assistance Inspiration now includes instructional movies to help jump-start you.

Tonight I will be going to the DigitalLife Press Preview in New York to get an idea as to what we can expect to see in the early Fall as companies preview their new innovations in the technology space. Many of these companies sell directly to consumers and will showing off their latest wares. According to the Press Release some of the companies that will be present are: Dell, LeapFrog, Palm, SimulScribe, Pentax, M-Audio, Mio Technology, Logitech, Kingston Technologies-just to name a few. It should be a lot of fun! Look for some news tomorrow abut my adventure into the Big Apple!

Chuck Frey who is synonomyous with visual learning and mind mapping has just released Power Tips & Strategies for Mind Mapping Software- 2nd Edition. Chuck has added over 20 plus Case Studies so that you can see how other professional are using mind mapping software effectively. I for one am looking forward to reading it and seeing my Case Study in print. This looks to be Chuck's best resource ever on mind mapping and it is worth taking a look at it on his site.

Odessa, Ukraine, July 10 2007 – CS Odessa today has released a service pack for its business productivity software product ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5. Mind mapping and brainstorming techniques are often recognized as helping people boost their business effectiveness and productivity, and our latest offering MINDMAP 5 is a sophisticated tool that is easy to use for mapping out a new process or task.

ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5 provides a simple and intuitive toolset that can be used in project planning, personal organizing and team management tasks using the mind mapping visual metaphor. MINDMAP 5 easily integrates into one’s daily office workflow because of the tight integration with the Microsoft Office product line and many popular project management tools.

MINDMAP 5.0.3 service pack is available to any registered customer of version 5. Individuals who are currently evaluating ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5.0.2 version can now download the newest release to evaluate our MINDMAP product offering.

Ira Socol in his Blog SpEdChange has an excellent post about how students can use the array of Google applications effectively throughout the day.

If you have a student with organizational troubles – and isn't that all students? Then, there is no better tool than the fully-implemented Google Account. This is the ideal study-and-life-support solution for almost all secondary and postsecondary students.

Combined with the Firefox Browser (for PC or Mac) and free add-ons to that system, the Google supports can provide an absolutely free system that will give your student the tools that help put academic success far more within reach.

Read the blog post for some really great ideas!

I came across this interesting utility that adds incredible functionality to MindManager 6 or 7 for Windows, which was reviewed in the last issue of Inclusion Times. Imagine a scenario in which your students have to read through a long and complex Word document and figure out what it means. Well with ThemeReader from Mindsystems it is now possible with the aide of MindManager to simply Right click on the Word document and select ThemeReader. ThemeReader begins to process your Word document and when it is done it creates a MindManager mindmap which summarizes all of the key points in the Word document. Using artificial intelligence and sophisticated algorithms, ThemeReader looks for recurrent or common themes in the document and graphically displays them in MindManager 6 /7. Mindsystems ThemeReader™ is powered by CiriLab's revolutionary “Knowledge Engine” technology. This advanced new technology is able to quickly analyze a file or document and pick out recurrent or 'common' themes. The MindManager Map that is shown was automatically developed from a proposal that I created in Microsoft Word. This is a very handy and powerful tool for students as well as educators who need to analyze information. This could be a very interesting way for students to analyze their reading material or for that matter their written work. This could easily be used to help students in the area of reading comprehension. Using ThemeReader alongside MindManager 6 or 7 and a text to speech application could go a long way to assist students in the area of comprehension. The text to speech application could be used directly within MindManager 6 or 7 to help students who have reading disabilities. If you are using MindManager 6or 7 in the classroom then take a look at this handy and useful add-on.

Amsterdam - 5 July 2007 - AssistiveWare(R) / ConvenienceWare(tm)
today announced the release of GhostReader(tm) text-to-speech
software for Mac OS X. GhostReader 1.1 replaces TextParrot 1.0 and
introduces a number of new features with an enhanced user interface.
Just as ghostwriters write for other people, GhostReader can read for
you!

GhostReader is a Universal Binary, multilingual speech solution for
Mac OS X that allows users to listen to their documents with
naturally sounding voices in a language of choice. It also allows
users to create their own personal podcasts or audio books by
exporting to iPod-ready iTunes tracks. Or, users can just use it to
speak selected text in a handy reader window with play, fast forward
and rewind functionality. In some applications, such as Safari,
GhostReader enables users to listen to text by just pointing the
cursor at the text. Now users can sit back and relax while
GhostReader reads the text under the cursor.

Voices are currently available for the following languages: US
English, UK English, Czech, Finnish, French, Canadian French, German,
Icelandic, Italian, Danish, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, American
Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Norwegian, Turkish and
Swedish. GhostReader itself is localized in English, French and
German.

New ConceptDraw Business Suite by CS Odessa Lets You See What You Can Accomplish

San Jose, California, July 5, 2007 - CS Odessa today announces the general availability of their completely updated ConceptDraw Business Suite three integrated software applications that address project planning, team communications and business graphics production in a single product suite.

ConceptDraw Business Suite consists of ConceptDraw 7 Professional, ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5 Professional, and ConceptDraw Project 3 ˆ three applications that visually manage different types of information to provide managers and team leaders with a turnkey solution for any process or project. All three products are Vista compatible and have a new updated interface, enhanced usability and a comprehensive set of professional features. All of the new versions listed above will support native Mac OS X. (ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5 will be released August 2007)

Here is a tip on how to reuse parts of your mind map by using the Remove Topic command. Enjoy!