Quote:
Originally Posted by artvision
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Awaiting your opinion!
The software is easy handling, I know, also me, I'm not quite willing learn much new stuff!  |
I see nobody is answering, maybe I was not very clear. I feel obliged to answer a few pertinent possible questions!
Q: Why we use new softwares? Couldn't we use the old plain text, with adding graphics, schematics, etc?[/COLOR]
A: Yes, we could, but it we very awkward to followup such amount of information as request by this subject. If we want that amount of info, into a normal list form, maybe will fill a booklet. Is everybody happy to read a booklet about something he/she do not understand yet what will be benefits from it? probably NO. Do we have much gain, by posting immense list, just scrolling them from one side to another, in between we forget about we were reading? probably not.
Q: Why are you proposing this software, in the first place? Are you some affiliations or some gains from leading us to use this software?
A: First of all, this is a FREE software, no strings attached. I have no affiliations or relations with these guys, I just tried to use a common multi-OS platform for sharing visual information with you. Will be able to share and use same information but handled on Windows, Linux and Mac's. Also seems a well featured software and I'm new to it as some of you, because I used before commercial software which will create a barrier between us.
Q: Second, why we need this new software, why should we bother install in our systems, no to mention the hassle that we have to learn new things?
A: Already described the concept "1 picture equal 1000 words" and you can use this software for myriads of purposes:
1. Put most valuable information in a brain visual attractive form (MindMaps)
2. You can see very easily what's missing, you can add easily what need more
3. You can use for brainstorming, just pot in the middle the main ideea and began to draw rays, naming it accordingly. Then go deeper, further and further.
4. Easy to present to others, no need big preparation or advanced knowledge; very fit for our purpose: a gathering of people from all backgrounds with different knowledge and skills, without being tied in a similar culture, language nor continent
5. You can make your check list for shopping, for scheduling events,
6. Could be use to Project management (I use mostly for that)
7. Could be used to analyze and solving a problem
8. You can use, for example when traveling make you a checklist, with all the things necessary, etc
9. We can do nice presentations, not only in a linear form as PowerPoint, meaning I 'm not forced go page 1, then 2, and so on, but can choos a path we want to discuss, etc. It is very advanced and very useful
Q: Ok I downloaded the software, installed but seemed pretty complicated, right?
A: I will answer you, maybe same seemed Microsoft Office at first encounter, but we were bypassing that problem, right? Because we human, are intended to solve problems, so this should not be a show stopper for us. If we are not able to use a software which is in the last instance, a mere TOOL, how we will be able solve such complex problems in front of us? I'm also much novice in this software, but before used similar software, but for our initial use, we need just be able to browsing, zoom in/out, and add/delete a branch, or write a text or something. THE MAIN IMPORTANT THING, is not the software, BUT WHAT WE PUT IN (you know that saying for computer systems: garbage in, garbage out)
etc.
Hope that I answered some worries and question.
So, here it is the Tufts University (Medford, Massachusetts, US) developed software, called:
VUE -
Visual Understanding Environment
The Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) is an Open Source project based at Tufts University. The VUE project is focused on creating flexible tools for managing and integrating digital resources in support of teaching, learning and research. VUE provides a flexible visual environment for structuring, presenting, and sharing digital information.
http://vue.tufts.edu/index.cfm
To download software:
http://vue.tufts.edu/download/index.cfm?fromvue=1
Examples:
http://vueproject.blogspot.com/
Presentation Video:
http://vue.tufts.edu/screencast/QT_hiRes.cfm
SO, if you are interested, you have installed the software, I'm quite ready to delivery a frame (quite complex if I put it in a linear, list form). On this form, everybody could manipulate, modify, add, delete whatever thinks is necessary and he can post his idea on forum.
We then indeed exchange our ideas and we will talk right to the point, not just babbling around and never remains a thing, nor getting something to materialize. Awaiting your suggestion, opinions and questions.