Engineering is about solving problems and there are many tools available to assist. Some of these are computer-based, while brainstorming and others rely on human input. In addition, many of the tools that have been traditionally thought of as being pen-and-paper based are now available as computer packages.

One example of this is Mind Mapping, a technique developed in the 1960s by Tony Buzan.
Mind Maps were initially created as a means of aiding memory and learning, but they are equally useful for promoting clearer thinking in almost any walk of life, engineering being just one example. Similarly to a road map, a mind map gives both an overview and a detailed view, allows routes to be planned and new routes to be explored. A mind map can also hold large amounts of data, aid visualisation and make complex issues less daunting.
Uses for mind maps within engineering are extremely varied, from creating 'to do' lists to planning projects, formulating specifications, organising project teams, making notes when working alone, taking notes during meetings, brainstorming, solving problems, troubleshooting, SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis and FTA (fault tree analysis). Using a mind map to assist with any of these activities can save time, enhance the effectiveness of the thinking, boost creativity, improve clarity and aid concentration. When used for activities that would otherwise be prepared as a list, the mind map can be considered as being two-dimensional instead of one-dimensional.
Tony Buzan, whose organisation has registered 'Mind Map' as a trademark, has created a set of Mind Map laws, though these are not reflected fully in all of the software packages available today. Starting in the centre of the page, an image of the topic should be created using at least three colours. Images, symbols, codes and dimensions can be used throughout the map, and keywords should be selected and printed. Each word (or image) should be on its own on its own line, with the line being the same length as the word or image. Staring from the central image, lines should radiate out, with thicker lines towards the centre of the map and thinner lines towards the outside. Lines should be organic, rather than rectilinear, and the mapper should choose a colour code for use throughout the map to show associations and/or for emphasis. Clarity can be enhanced by using a radiant hierarchy, numerical order or outlines, and mappers are encouraged to develop their own personal style.

Maps often develop in unanticipated ways, so when working on paper it is to be expected that sections will need to be redrawn to reorder things and clarify the map. This also presents an opportunity to further embellish or expand some areas if required. However, there are clearly major benefits in transferring mind mapping to a computer software package, with the precise facilities depending on the package used.

Computer-aided mapping

One of the main advantages is that information can be added fast, and the map is almost certain to look neater than a hand-drawn map - and more presentable to others. Changes can also be made more easily using drag-and-drop, cut-and-paste, save-as and similar techniques that avoid having to completely redraw a map. Words or images on the map can have large amounts of hidden text added, which can be automatically exposed when required, or hypertext links can be added enabling the user to jump between one place on the map to another, or to another map, a web page or any other document. Most software packages also have libraries of images or symbols that can be added to a map. If an area of the map becomes particularly complex or overcrowded, it can be converted into its own mind map and kept hidden until needed. Colours can easily be added to branches or to show connections or emphasis, and further connections can be added in the form of coloured arrows of various styles.
As with other electronic documents, mind maps can be shared via email or published on a web page, and some systems allow several remote users to work with the same map using conferencing facilities. Moreover, many packages allow information to be exported to other packages, such as Microsoft's Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Project.
Headcase has produced a Windows-based software package that is said to be the first to match Buzan's mind mapping laws (Fig.1). One of the unusual features of this tool is the way text is curved to fit branches. Another useful aspect of the Headcase software is that it can be extended through the use of Activex controls, so custom plug-ins can either be added from third-party developers or created in-house if the skills are available. Headcase is a multi-language package that is available as a free 28-day trial download. Remarkably, the cost is only E30 for the beginner version and E50 for the Smartace version (plus taxes).
Most developers of mind mapping software offer free trial downloads, but Freemind is a freeware tool that is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Debian Linux and Suse (9.0) Linux. Maps can be exported as HTML (and HTML links can be stored within nodes), and it is said to be straightforward to write Visual Basic conversion routines to enable the XML data stored within the maps to be exported to other mind mapping tools. The Czech developers admit that the software is not, strictly speaking, mind mapping, but they do claim that it is faster than several leading packages in some respects, probably as a result of it being written in Java.
Conceptdraw Mindmap, from Computer Systems Odessa, Ukraine, is claimed to be the only tool of its kind that runs on both Windows and Macintosh operating systems (Fig.2). In common with many of the other packages available, Conceptdraw Mindmapv3.0 is offered as Professional and Standard versions, priced at E122 and E81 respectively, with a trial download available for free. One facility offered within Mindmap that is not available in all similar products is an enhanced search. In the case of Mindmap, users can search hyperlinked documents, files in a folder, text notes, or search backwards. Another useful feature is a facility for exporting PDF files to enable maps to be easily distributed, and scheduled tasks can be imported from Microsoft Outlook for users who wish to be better organised.

Portable mapping

Several software developers are now introducing versions of their mind mapping software that can be used on tablet PCs. One such company is Gael, which has launched Mind Genius Brainbloom for tablet PCs. This Scottish company has its software in use in 100 countries and it has recently opened offices in Copenhagen, Denmark and Warsaw, Poland. Although the E42 Home edition of Mind Genius can export maps as RTF (rich text format) files, it does not have the ability of the E149 Business edition to export to Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Project and HTML.
Another active area of development is mind mapping software for use on PDAs (personal digital assistants). Mindmapper Professionalv4.0, from the USA-based Bosley Group, is the company's flagship product priced at E123, but it also offers Mindmapper PDA for Palm OS machines priced at just E20.
A PDA version is also available from Mindjet for its Mindmanager software. MindmanagerX5Mobile (E45) is suitable for running on Pocket PCs with the Windows Mobile operating system. In addition to the Mobile version of the software, Mindjet also offers a top-of-the-range MindmanagerX5Professional (E297) and Mindmanager X5 (E223), both of which are pen-enabled for use with tablet PCs, and an add-in has now been released to provide file compatibility for users of Lotus Notes. Mindmanager has recently been purchased by the UK's Royal Air Force Strike Command for use by operational planners working on core operational contingency tasks.
Other companies offering mind mapping software include Avant4u, with its E38 Mindchart 2.0 standard edition, and Brainpower, whose Mapit! shareware (E68) software is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Norwegian, Danish, Finish and Swedish. Inspiration is orientated more towards educational applications, but it is another tool that is available in two versions for use on Windows and Palm platforms. Another notable feature of Inspiration is that it has audio support, enabling the user to add voice notes - which can also be played back, of course.
For those who prefer the Macintosh operating system, Novamind v2.2 (E69) has a facility for exporting and importing maps directly to and from Mindjet's Windows-based Mindmanager, though not all features are fully compatible between the two programs. Novamind has already been translated into English, Japanese, Chinese (traditional), French, German, Spanish, Italian, Swedish and Dutch. Moreover, it is claimed that mind maps can be created in any language supported by Mac OS X.
Visual Mind 6, from Norwegian company Mind Technologies (formerly Norcan Data) is unusual in that it offers password protection and data encryption in its Business edition (E122), plus it can exchange maps with JKRB Software's Pocket Mindmap for pocket PCs (E47).

However, if a graphics package is sought for doing more than mind mapping, Smartdraw can also be used for creating flowcharts, timelines, organisational charts, floor plans, networks and forms (Fig.3). Smartdraw is priced at E56 for the standard edition and E162 for the professional edition.
The market for mind mapping software is clearly highly competitive, with plenty of choice, even for non-English language programs. Most developers offer trial downloads and free viewers, and the price of standard or home editions - or even the business or professional editions - means that little investment is required to try mind mapping. With engineering-based companies continually seeking ways to improve efficiency and boost creativity, mind mapping seems to be a good place to start.