have you ever thought about "3D" mind maps where you have different layers on a 2D plane (similar to digital art) that essentially allow you to expand your map? I ask this because I notice in pretty much all your map examples, you almost always have 4 main branches from the head, and I think that's just a consequence of a lack of space. Some topics are very, very complex and deserve to be fully analyzed and dissected, but bar from purchasing a classroom sized board, you can't really do that.
John, thank you for sharing your ideas on 3D mind maps! I'm in the process of building a community for mind mappers and would love for folks like you to share your techniques. After all, the number of mind map use cases is akin to the permutations of the mind itself, which is nearly endless. As for your question/comment on expanding beyond 4 main branches, I have a few clarifying points: 1) The framework for analysis is not the analysis itself. Since this is an evolving crisis, I wanted to share the framework first to help people wade through the torrent of information that's coming our way (or rather it's here). 2) The old Niantic technical director Jamie had a great saying: "sufficient to purpose". This means in any endeavor, we should a) know our purpose and b) know what is enough. Therefore, the number of main branches or nodes depends on your purpose. In this instance, four main categories of information sources is enough (at least for me) especially if they compass multiple sub-nodes. I will also often use more than 4 nodes for purposes like product design (ua-cam.com/video/8pJ_FxwqVrM/v-deo.html) and Covid crisis analysis (ua-cam.com/video/dqrShooumjI/v-deo.html). Note that there are 6 nodes in that crisis analysis. 3) It's easier to make things more complex, but harder to simplify. This is a lesson I learned from product management: that it's always easier to add features, but harder to remove them. Per Apple design philosophy, elegance is in simplifying the complex, just as when Warren Buffett condenses complex concepts into aphorisms that anyone can understand. The same applies to mind maps - it's always easier to add more main nodes, but harder to consolidate them, which requires more thinking. When I'm mapping, I'm actively compartmentalizing as I'm expanding out the complexities. Even in a simple 2-week sprint map (instagram.com/p/CaA6dyOPlIO/), there are 10 sub-nodes expanding out from 4 main branches. This could easily have been a 10 main branch map. This active categorization keeps chaos manageable while training my brain to think more associatively in a more organized manner. I consider this 2nd order benefit of "cognitive weight lifting" to be mind mapping's true advantage (I'll expand on this in the future). 4) Annotations (often using another colored ink) make the map 3D. This might not be as novel as digital art, but it is "sufficient to purpose". I always try to use the lowest tech tools to meet the purpose at hand. It would be a great irony for the tools that we use to bust complexity to add more complexity.
I’ve had the same idea about 3D mindmaps. Good point Sheng. I think you just saved me 10,000 hours complicating mindmaps only to realize pen and paper are, as you pointed out, sufficient to purpose. However, if there was an easy intuitive interface to make it 3D, with nodes on the z axis in ‘atmospheric perspective’ (lighter in value as it recedes) and you could spin the mind map in 360 degrees. That might be interesting.
This was great. I hope more people come across and can learn a little bit more about the process of critical thinking. I’ve been reading a lot about this for several years now after my cousin moved to the Ukraine with her husband. They’re back home in Texas, but unfortunately his mother was stuck Kharkiv and was unable to get out in time. So part of me working through that anxiousness was to learn more. I will say it’s been heartbreaking seeing the images coming from citizens.
Xicana, I'm sorry to hear that his mother is still there. It's a tough time indeed. Let's keep listening and learning and perhaps together find a way forward.
Thanks for the explanation Could you do a video on how to applyining mind maps as a preparation tool for a university exams? Or how you did use it during your study days.
I like the idea of slowing my thinking down. Also, ever since the combination of covid & Ukraine happening. I’ve been wanting to keep up w/ the news. But I didn’t know who to follow, or if I should also study history. Or how to keep track of the information. But since u made this video. It made me realize how mind mapping can help me. So that’s y I’m gonna get back into using mind maps more. I also like the idea of reviewing similar events from history too. Thanks for the video. 😎
This was so helpful - shared it with some of my friends. I am reading “Prisoners of Geography “now. It really helps to understand countries strengths and motivations based on what surrounds them and what they have access to. How geography shapes their decisions . Thank you for the other two recommendations.
I prefer to give people tools to discover their own opinions. Especially for something like a human conflict which has competing human stories without an objective truth. If we are all able to think deeper, perhaps we will live more personally fulfilling lives and be more resistant to just being told what to think and do.
have you ever thought about "3D" mind maps where you have different layers on a 2D plane (similar to digital art) that essentially allow you to expand your map? I ask this because I notice in pretty much all your map examples, you almost always have 4 main branches from the head, and I think that's just a consequence of a lack of space. Some topics are very, very complex and deserve to be fully analyzed and dissected, but bar from purchasing a classroom sized board, you can't really do that.
John, thank you for sharing your ideas on 3D mind maps! I'm in the process of building a community for mind mappers and would love for folks like you to share your techniques. After all, the number of mind map use cases is akin to the permutations of the mind itself, which is nearly endless. As for your question/comment on expanding beyond 4 main branches, I have a few clarifying points:
1) The framework for analysis is not the analysis itself. Since this is an evolving crisis, I wanted to share the framework first to help people wade through the torrent of information that's coming our way (or rather it's here).
2) The old Niantic technical director Jamie had a great saying: "sufficient to purpose". This means in any endeavor, we should a) know our purpose and b) know what is enough. Therefore, the number of main branches or nodes depends on your purpose. In this instance, four main categories of information sources is enough (at least for me) especially if they compass multiple sub-nodes. I will also often use more than 4 nodes for purposes like product design (ua-cam.com/video/8pJ_FxwqVrM/v-deo.html) and Covid crisis analysis (ua-cam.com/video/dqrShooumjI/v-deo.html). Note that there are 6 nodes in that crisis analysis.
3) It's easier to make things more complex, but harder to simplify. This is a lesson I learned from product management: that it's always easier to add features, but harder to remove them. Per Apple design philosophy, elegance is in simplifying the complex, just as when Warren Buffett condenses complex concepts into aphorisms that anyone can understand. The same applies to mind maps - it's always easier to add more main nodes, but harder to consolidate them, which requires more thinking. When I'm mapping, I'm actively compartmentalizing as I'm expanding out the complexities. Even in a simple 2-week sprint map (instagram.com/p/CaA6dyOPlIO/), there are 10 sub-nodes expanding out from 4 main branches. This could easily have been a 10 main branch map. This active categorization keeps chaos manageable while training my brain to think more associatively in a more organized manner. I consider this 2nd order benefit of "cognitive weight lifting" to be mind mapping's true advantage (I'll expand on this in the future).
4) Annotations (often using another colored ink) make the map 3D. This might not be as novel as digital art, but it is "sufficient to purpose". I always try to use the lowest tech tools to meet the purpose at hand. It would be a great irony for the tools that we use to bust complexity to add more complexity.
I’ve had the same idea about 3D mindmaps. Good point Sheng. I think you just saved me 10,000 hours complicating mindmaps only to realize pen and paper are, as you pointed out, sufficient to purpose. However, if there was an easy intuitive interface to make it 3D, with nodes on the z axis in ‘atmospheric perspective’ (lighter in value as it recedes) and you could spin the mind map in 360 degrees. That might be interesting.
This was great. I hope more people come across and can learn a little bit more about the process of critical thinking. I’ve been reading a lot about this for several years now after my cousin moved to the Ukraine with her husband. They’re back home in Texas, but unfortunately his mother was stuck Kharkiv and was unable to get out in time. So part of me working through that anxiousness was to learn more. I will say it’s been heartbreaking seeing the images coming from citizens.
Xicana, I'm sorry to hear that his mother is still there. It's a tough time indeed. Let's keep listening and learning and perhaps together find a way forward.
Thanks for the explanation
Could you do a video on how to applyining mind maps as a preparation tool for a university exams?
Or how you did use it during your study days.
Sheng, thanks for letting us see your process - very helpful.
Thanks for recommending the books!
I like the way you use maps to analyze a current affair kind of situation.
I like the idea of slowing my thinking down. Also, ever since the combination of covid & Ukraine happening. I’ve been wanting to keep up w/ the news. But I didn’t know who to follow, or if I should also study history. Or how to keep track of the information. But since u made this video. It made me realize how mind mapping can help me. So that’s y I’m gonna get back into using mind maps more. I also like the idea of reviewing similar events from history too. Thanks for the video. 😎
Thanks for dropping by Jaden! I'm so glad this was helpful :)
This was so helpful - shared it with some of my friends. I am reading “Prisoners of Geography “now. It really helps to understand countries strengths and motivations based on what surrounds them and what they have access to. How geography shapes their decisions . Thank you for the other two recommendations.
Thank you Jeri!
Very nice of you and clever to present a framework to analyze any crisis instead of presenting your point of view.
I prefer to give people tools to discover their own opinions. Especially for something like a human conflict which has competing human stories without an objective truth. If we are all able to think deeper, perhaps we will live more personally fulfilling lives and be more resistant to just being told what to think and do.