Mind Mapping For Dummies

Using tablet PCs

The middle of 2010 saw the start of the hype about the Apple iPad, an A4-sized device which can be used rather like a smart phone. It means that you can input data directly via a touch-sensitive screen. There’s no actual keyboard for entering data, but a virtual keyboard can be superimposed on the display. The Apple iPad or similar devices aren’t really suited to inputting large amounts of data, since the virtual keyboard takes up a lot of the screen and entering information is quite slow.

So-called tablet laptops have been around now for over five years. These laptops also have a touch-sensitive screen and can be operated with both the fingers and a special stylus, meaning that you can actually write on the screen. There’s also a keyboard for quick data input, and all the programs that run on your PC will work on these machines. They enable you to combine the freedom of pen and paper with the advantages of a computer and are really great for Mind Mapping. In particular, the iMindMap software with the option of drawing Mind Maps freehand becomes a kind of digital paper. You can also write on the screen for the purpose of handwriting recognition.