Using MindManager to create an integrated presentation...

For the last few days I have been preparing for a meeting next week ... I noticed a couple of templates and ideas on the Mindjet web site and downloaded some examples ... one of them showed how to use powerpoints within the app ... well I decided to use this idea and others and created what you see here. The basic idea is that I bring up this map and use it as the hub of the presentation. I have links to other maps, two powerpoints that when clicked, take me right into a full screen show based on other maps ... the links to the other maps bring in another whole round of ideas that can be used to take more and more detail into the conversation as needed ... you can add offshoots to give as much granularity as needed, but yet leave the hub to give you a sense of the full presentation ... it is more of a meeting, so I don't really want to dictate the direction of the presentation, but rather be prepared to go in any direction ... by using a mind map, you have that available ... I really like this and can see how it would be valuable even in a much larger presentation as you would be able to change direction at any time as the discussion dictates ... how many times have you been locked into a powerpoint and you realize that most in the room are not interested ... here is a great presentation tool that can change your ability to deliver your message ....

Update on Portable Apps ...

Got all things running and this is really a slick way to carry a bare bones office with you that will fit in a pocket ...

Hardware: a Seagate 5gb pocket hard drive ... they are all over ebay now and come in 2.5, 5 and 6 gig configurations (I am trying to get a second unit as we speak ... ) - depending on your needs and which software you choose to load, the new larger flash drives will also allow you to carry a large amount of data with you on a key drive

Software: the Mozilla open source email and browser (Firefox and Thunderbird) tweaked to boot off the pocket drive ... add the OpenOffice office suite from the same location to have all your office tools and finally, Microsoft's free SyncToy application

How it all works: the portable apps are all just like the standalone units on your regular desktop. The portable apps will show in their respective folder (a further app is a launcher available at the same site ...) and you just click to launch ... the great thing is that they are running on the flash drive so you can take your settings and bookmarks and ??? as if you were still on your own computer AND it will not leave any traces on the host machine - especially critical when using machines in public places and in strange locales. I use the sync toy by creating a data folder on my pc and just stuffing any and all docs, pdf, spreadsheets, power points, etc that may be needed on a portable basis (actually have my paperport directory and current working folder in this main folder. By using the sync toy on this folder before I go out the door, as I leave I will have everything up to date and current ... as you change docs or even put new ones in on the road, all you have to do is sync again when you return and your data is current again on both the drive and you main machine ... this is a simple and very effective way to carry a minimal but workable "computer" with you ....

MindManager more useful everyday ...

I have been a longtime MindManager user .. in fact, I have several of these type of programs installed on my machine but keep coming back to this as my most useful app. I have used this program for managing an extensive portfolio of projects all in different stages ... I utilize the program in a different way from most methods that I have seen for managing information ... let me go through the thought process ....

I need to focus on opportunities based on location and time, so the opportunities section is divided into prospects that are close or within the year ... further I have an archive section that is used for missed opportunities or those that are on hold ... that way attention need not be paid there on a daily scan but when time permits ... the other side of the map is for task based items like negotiations, meetings, product development, etc .... I use color on the sections throughout to key whether things need attention or are immenent ...

Now here is one of the items that I could not live without ... since a lot of our projects are all over the world, the info comes in as a steady flow throught emails and attachments ... I use individual subsections each time a significant point happens in a project, so you can burrow down based on the chronology ... I use the note feature and copy and paste email info into the notes, so when I need to refer back for info, it is available right on the branch, no more searching for info ... I then have files, etc all linked to the branch, so it becomes a self contained project overview ... an added ability is resource management and time elapsed, I use the task info to show assigned resources and also I will put a start date to shown when we started and a finish if we have certain time constraints on a branch ... makes for a wonderful map that you can see everything and in as much detail as you need or just stare at the big picture ... works for me ....

Portable office to go ....

I have been searching for a good way to use my portable USB drives, both flash and hard ... there has been lots of press on using apps with the new U3 standard that is being included with several new flash drives ... I like the idea, but paying for that is not something I would normally do ... so I kept searching and found a great site ... PortableApps which has open source applications like OpenOffice, firefox and thunderbird that are tweaked to install and run off the drives ... perfect ... you could load your data files and have the openoffice, plug into any usb while at a friends or cafe and voila, you are up and working. It will also take your settings from firefox, etc so you are right at home while not being at home ... great stuff ...

Web based office .... becoming a reality ...

It was just announced that writely was bought out by Google and this made sense in the scheme of things that would all work on office files and be online ... well, keeping in that vein, here are several more that bear watching and really make a handy desktop for you while on the road ...

Word Processor ... Writely makes seamless docs and can write to pdf for universal rendering ...

Spreadsheet ... Numsum and iRows are both good ... very quick and will allow you to share the data as needed

Power Point ... Thumbstacks has just emerged and is a good choice for that application

Database ... DabbleDB is almost ready, so sign up for notification ...

Calculator and Converter ... CalCoolate is a quick and handy calculator and converter

This together makes quite a nice assortment of business and personal tools that one could use anywhere with a web connection ... comes in handy in a pinch or for collaborative work ... could also be used to present things right from a clients pc ... uses are only contstrained by your ingenuity ... play and enjoy ...

Better screen capture ...

Here is a better screen capture of my "brain" ....

Extending the mind by using the Brain ....

Hmmm .... did that get your attention ... good, I have been using this extension of the thought process to help with memory and projects for several years now and thought I would share my use and point you to the download for you to try it for yourself ....

When I am working on projects, it seems like good ideas pass through the mind quickly and if not noted or followed will end up in the old recycle bin in the sky ... well enter the Brain it is a neat app that stays loaded and accessible at a moments notice on my screen .... it tries to mimic the thought collection process in your mind ... it creates a complex web of interconnected things like thoughts that can be gotten within a few clicks of the mouse. I use it to put all relevant links to web sites, documents, thoughts, etc into a labled area that can be connected easily to other areas to show relationships and thought processes ... I have included a clip of their website that illustrates at the very top a "plex" or their parlance for a brain or collection (you can have multiple brains) but I prefer having all thoughts in one place. You can see the interconnections, click on one and the plex transforms itself to key in on that "thought" ... I love the interface and how you can quickly navigate your thinking and saved thoughts ... I like to compartmentalize all links and that way can quickly come back to a project and be at speed, that is considering all the files and links that I usually have when putting together a project ... this save an enormous amount of work when you try and reconstruct your path ...

Learning curve can be high on this one, but I think it worth an exploration if you have the inclination ... I tend to leave it and come back regularly as old thoughts never die in that little portion of cyberspace ....

Desktop Setup ... Tablet PC and Monitor ....

Discovered today a super neat way of finally harnessing the power of the tablet PC while at my desk and not being tied to the smaller screen (for all you vision challenged gen x'ers ), I have been using a flexdock for my Motion 1400 and a 19" monitor at a 1280 X 1078 resolution so I would have more real estate to work in ... that is a great setup, EXCEPT when you want to ink something ... well, watch carefully now and I will show you how to do nicely ...

There is a way to mirror or run an extended desktop to run two monitors from the intel graphics card that is in the unit. The problem is that the resolution cannot be set independently so a compromise is always made. Enter UtlraMon by Realtime Soft ... this totally slick app takes your monitor and allows you to use both as if you had two separate operating areas ... it even allows you to have the task bar spanning both screens and will have the programs running on the respective screens in that task bar (unbelievable) ... you can do all sorts of things with it (see the feature section) but the main thing for me is running my large monitor in the higher res and allowing me to ink if I need to ... I have the Motion set up in the flex dock to the left of my 19" monitor .. it is normally set upright, but when I need to ink, it can lay down for a nice inking surface ... too neat ... I have been trying all sorts of combinations to try and allow me to do this, now it is happening with this setup ... you can even run more monitors to really go crazy, but two is enough for me ... anything to add to productivity ... I actually have Thunderbird email client running on my tablet while running Firefox on the monitor ... makes for a really quick way of working ... the cursor smoothly passes between screens, so it seems very natural to work this way ... just did this and am exploring ... try it, it is amazing ...

New Toshiba business site for Tablet PC ...

Great new page that is devoted to Tablet PC's by Toshiba .. lots of good stuff and ideas ... the marketing is getting more aggressive and the uses are expanding .... just what we need to spread the word on Tablet PC's and their utility .... a good read and site to watch ... Toshiba also highlights their 4 offerings ... convertibles all, but seems like capable choices to look at ...

It Works ....

As a closing post to the process of creating quick web sites, this should do it ... I created a site from scratch today and have it out for review in a lot less time than I have ever been able to do it in. The reposting and changing of information is virtually instantaneous, so another added plus. Again, the application is basically using the Bubbler Instant Publisher application and the Bubbler hosting ... they have been extremely responsive to emails for help and even went above and beyond help by giving me an image of my page so we can use it in a presentation ... refreshing to get such great service ... highly recommended group ...

The second key is the tablet PC app from Micrsoft called the snipping tool and it is part of the Experience Pack for tablet PC's. The snipping tool is really a slick capture tool that will save in jpg and allow you then to take it into a word doc for final additons and editing ... I then use it again to take the layout from my work doc and create a simple and single jpg that you can see posted in the photo sections of the site ... really fast and handy ...

So here is a link to my site produced today using these tools ... gotta love it !!!