Another gem from Courtoons.
Back-Up Your Brain!
(Click on the image to view the full-size version.)
Computer memory is increasingly being used as a virtual extension of human memory (although we are still a long way from achieving a world where nothing is forgotten, as envisaged by Microsoft researcher Gordon Bell).
This mind map is about three computer-based tools that help me organise, store and retrieve things I want to remember: Evernote (my “external brain” on the Web), iMindMap (which is also the tool I used to create the mind map itself) and Personal Brain (a powerful application I’ve been using for some time now and whose potential I am still discovering and exploring). I find them all “mind-expanding” in different (and complementary) ways.
The image I used as an illustration for the “iMindMap” branch in this iMindMap mind map is actually an image of the mind map itself. And if you look closely, you’ll see that that image, in turn, also contains an image of the mind map! The Screen Capture tool and Insert Floating Image option in iMindMap version 3 make effects like this very easy to achieve.
For fun with legal language, see infra
Click on the image to see the original cartoon, or click here to see the latest addition to the gallery: Courtoons. The site is updated five times a week. Bookmark it now!
Mind Mapping Software, 1977-style!
Mind mapping software is getting more and more attention these days, and Chuck Frey does a great job of keeping us all up-to-date with the latest ideas and developments on his Mind Mapping Software Blog.
But back in the days when I started studying computer science, if I’d heard the words “mind mapping software”, I might have interpreted them a little differently. Just for fun, I thought I’d show you how I was “mind mapping Software” back in 1977 (together with Hardware and Applications). This is a mind map I drew in June 1977 to summarise my first-year Computer Science course at Aston University.
But back in the days when I started studying computer science, if I’d heard the words “mind mapping software”, I might have interpreted them a little differently. Just for fun, I thought I’d show you how I was “mind mapping Software” back in 1977 (together with Hardware and Applications). This is a mind map I drew in June 1977 to summarise my first-year Computer Science course at Aston University.
My First iMindMap Mind Map
Not my first-ever mind map, of course (I’ve been using the technique since 1974), but here is the first mind map I produced when I started playing around with iMindMap software in March 2008:
It seemed a natural way to record my spontaneous reactions on using the software for the first time. (“Mr Pattern Man” is a reference to a cartoon character who appeared – together with Mr Linear Man – in the original BBC television series Use Your Head.)
I dedicated this mind map to Tony Buzan, who was quick to point out the key role of Chris Griffiths at Buzan Online Ltd in making the product a reality. So it’s “kudos” to Chris and his development team, too!
In fact, I like this product so much that I bought two licences and decided to join the affiliate programme...
It seemed a natural way to record my spontaneous reactions on using the software for the first time. (“Mr Pattern Man” is a reference to a cartoon character who appeared – together with Mr Linear Man – in the original BBC television series Use Your Head.)
I dedicated this mind map to Tony Buzan, who was quick to point out the key role of Chris Griffiths at Buzan Online Ltd in making the product a reality. So it’s “kudos” to Chris and his development team, too!
In fact, I like this product so much that I bought two licences and decided to join the affiliate programme...
Warning: Road Sign Out To Lunch!
Last week in The Bulletin, I read that the European Union had formally recognised Welsh as a minority language. According to the article, about 21% of Welsh nationals can speak the language. And, according to a recent BBC report, all official road signs in Wales have to be bilingual. That makes sense. So I would not be surprised if I saw a sign like this in Wales…
…but that’s only because I don’t speak Welsh! According to the BBC report, what the Welsh text actually says is: “I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated.”
Whoops! That reminds of my Urdu “conversation piece”.
Verification. Ignore it at your peril.
…but that’s only because I don’t speak Welsh! According to the BBC report, what the Welsh text actually says is: “I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated.”
Whoops! That reminds of my Urdu “conversation piece”.
Verification. Ignore it at your peril.
“Heating” the headlines
An Israeli newspaper recently quoted France’s Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, as saying that Israel might “eat” Iran! It transpired that the word Mr Kouchner, speaking in English, actually used was “hit”. But the letter “h” is often silent in French, and to the ears of at least one listener the sound corresponded phonetically to the word “eat”.
Fortunately, the error was quickly corrected. But there is another worrying aspect to this incident: According to a BBC report, the newspaper stated, when apologising for the misunderstanding, that the transcription had been cleared by the Foreign Minister’s office before it was published.
If you’ve got something important to communicate in writing, remember you can never be too careful. Don’t overlook the importance of proofreading and verification of even the “simplest” details.
Otherwise, you might find yourself having to eat your words.
Fortunately, the error was quickly corrected. But there is another worrying aspect to this incident: According to a BBC report, the newspaper stated, when apologising for the misunderstanding, that the transcription had been cleared by the Foreign Minister’s office before it was published.
If you’ve got something important to communicate in writing, remember you can never be too careful. Don’t overlook the importance of proofreading and verification of even the “simplest” details.
Otherwise, you might find yourself having to eat your words.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
