Folks often ask me about the software I use. Here’s my current list.
Mind mapping
- Mindmanager
- Mindmanager is the visual outlining program I use in my classes and talks. Although it's not perfect, it remains the best program available. Here are the improvements I'd like to see:
- allow for multiple monitor interface;
- allow tearing off (move) of text boxes or image/icon libraries (screen real estate is precious with maps);
- allow keyboard customization (which makes fast use in the classroom
difficult) (It would be nice to be able to hit, say “F4” to create a
yellow hilighted topic with a rounded box--currently no such way. Have
to go through 6 or 7 clicks or create a style, which still requires 3
mouse clicks. In real time usage in a meeting or classroom, this must
be something we can do with a keyboard. I use a kludge of MM macros and AutoHotKey macros.)
- improve printing out large maps in intelligent ways;
- improve speed of searching and filtering in large maps;
- decrease idle eating up of CPU cycles in the background (bad for laptops);
- clean and complete export with light-weight viewers for folks who don't have Mindmanager.
- the mindmapping space is getting competitive; for example, Mindmapper seems impressive although not yet enough to switch; Xmind is open source and imports Mindmanager files very well.
- Full notice: I've recently been collaborating more with Mindjet on Mindmanager, and Mindjet has launched a pilot project at the UCLA School of Law (March 08, 2010).
- Concept mapping (brain storming where relations between concepts are important)
- Smartideas (fast concept-mapping)
- Smartdraw(slower but higher production value flow charting; also good at converting between graphics formats)
- Free form database (throw text and files in; search at lightning speed)
- Zoot(amazingly powerful information console) but it’s text
only and probably different from any other program you're used to
- Email
- Neo Pro (front end to Outlook that makes Outlook actually usable)
- Full text searching
- Speech recognition
- DragonNaturallySpeaking Preferred v10 (only those with high
motivation and computer savvy seem to use speech recognition programs
for any length of time--that said, the technology’s quite remarkable)
- Microphones (Revolabs xTag) (bluetooth wireless)
- Web site
- Utilities
- Anagram (smart copies text into Outlook contacts / appointments)
- Ultramon(multimonitor software)
- Mozy(backup service; automatic online backup)
- Search Everything (free and makes file finding so simple that it's stunning)
- XYPlorer (replacement file manager; sophisticated)
- Tablet PC
- Gateway 140 (tablets are just laptops with active/touch screens that allows inking; in my view, they're a boon for academics) (Gateway is no longer making tablets)
- pdfAnnotator (allows marking up of pdfs)
- Scanner
- Fujitsu ScanSnap (unbelievably easy-to-use scanner)
You are not logged in. Log in 