ContextMinds Review: A Must-Have Tool for Creative Thinkers

Are you looking for a new tool to boost your creative thinking and idea capture? Look no further than ContextMinds.

In this review, we’ll take a closer look at EMC Engineering’s concept mapping tool ContextMinds, which helps users expand their diagrams with keyword prompts. As a visual thinking tool, ContextMinds offers a range of features to aid in creative thinking and idea capture, including the ability to change the look of the concept map and the ability to add new nodes to the map. But what sets ContextMinds apart is its constantly updated list of related words and phrases, which gives you a constant source of new ideas to help you think. 

So if you need a new tool to boost your thinking and creativity, read on to learn more about the many benefits of ContextMinds.

Quickly and Easily Create a Concept Map with ContextMinds

Creating a new concept map in ContextMinds is simple. Let’s see this in detail below:

Step 1: Creating a New Concept Map

To create a new concept map in ContextMinds, follow these steps:

• Click on the “New Concept Map” button in the top right corner of the screen.
• Enter a name for your concept map and any tags or comments you want to use for future reference.
• Choose whether you want to make your concept map public or private.
• Once you’ve completed these steps, the application will open a new canvas where you can begin building your concept map.

Step 2: Adding New Nodes

To add new nodes to your concept map, follow these steps:

• Click on the large, green plus button in the lower right corner of the workspace.
• Alternatively, you can double-click on a blank area of the workspace to bring up the “Add Concept” dialog box.
• Type in your new word or concept, and use the suggested words and phrases panel on the left side of the dialog box to find related words and concepts.
• Select the word or concept you want to add, click the “add” button, or hit the enter key on your keyboard.

This quick and easy process makes it simple to add new concepts to your map, whether you’re brainstorming or just looking to expand your diagram. And with the keyboard functionality, you can add new concepts quickly and efficiently, using only your keyboard.

Step 3: Using the Suggested Words and Phrases Panel

As you type in new words and concepts, a panel on the left side of the “Add Concept” dialog box provides a wealth of related words and phrases. These words and phrases come from various sources, including your previous concept maps, maps created by others in the application, and Wikipedia. If you would like to add a word or phrase, simply click the “add” button on your keyboard and add the word or phrase.

Overall, creating a concept map in ContextMinds is intuitive and straightforward, making it easy for users to capture their ideas and organize them visually. Whether you’re a visual learner or simply looking for a new tool to boost your creativity, ContextMinds is a great choice.

Related concepts: Expand Your Thinking with ContextMinds

One of the standout features of ContextMinds is the constantly updating list of related words and phrases displayed on the screen’s bottom. This list, available as you build your concept map, provides a wealth of inspiration and creative stimuli to help you think and expand your idea.

One might think where do these words and phrases come from? ContextMinds offers the option of choosing from three different sources for its list of suggested keywords. These sources include the user’s previous concept maps, and maps created by others.

Source 1: Your Previously-Created Concept Maps

ContextMinds allows you to access your previous concept maps as a source for related words and phrases. This can be useful if you want to build on ideas you’ve already explored in the past or if you want to reuse words and concepts from your previous maps.

Source 2: Maps Created by Others in the Application

In addition to your own concept maps, ContextMinds also allows you to use other people’s maps as a source for related words and phrases. This can be useful if you want to get inspiration from the work of others or if you want to see how others have approached similar topics.

Source 3: Wikipedia

Finally, ContextMinds allows you to use Wikipedia as a source for related words and phrases. This can be a useful feature if you want to learn new things or if you want to know more about a certain subject.

In addition to these sources, ContextMinds also allows you to filter the list of suggested words by selecting one or more keywords. This can be useful if you want a smaller, more focused list of suggestions or to narrow down the options.

Overall, the constantly updating list of related words and phrases is a powerful feature that sets ContextMinds apart from other concept mapping tools. Whether you’re a visual learner seeking a new tool to boost your thinking and idea capture or a creative thinker looking for inspiration, ContextMinds is worth a closer look. The option to filter the list of suggested words and its ability to draw from various sources make it a versatile and powerful tool for enhancing your concept map.

Easily Link Your Ideas Together with ContextMinds

In addition to adding new nodes to your concept map, ContextMinds provides a range of features to help you connect new concepts with your existing ones. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Selecting a Word or Concept

To connect your ideas in ContextMinds, you’ll need to select a word or concept on the canvas. To do this, click on the word or concept you want to select. This will display a simple menu above it, with options to link concepts and relationships and customize the appearance.

Step 2: Adding New Concepts or Relationships

To add a new concept or relationship to your concept map, follow these steps:

• Click on the “Link Concept” or “Relationship” option in the menu above the selected word or concept.
• If you’re adding a new concept, you’ll be prompted to type in the new concept in the “Add Concept” dialog box.
• If you’re adding a relationship, you’ll be prompted to select a second topic to link to the first. ContextMinds will automatically connect the two concepts with a line, which you can customize.

Step 3: Customizing the Appearance of Your Concept Map

ContextMinds also provides a range of customization options for the appearance of your concept map. To customize the appearance of your nodes and lines, follow these steps:

• Click on the “Customize Appearance” option in the menu above the selected word or concept.
• Use the options in the “Appearance” panel to customize your nodes’ colour, shape, and size.
• Use the “Lines” options to customize the thickness and style of the lines connecting your concepts.

With these customization options, you can create a concept map tailored to your liking that reflects your personal style. Whether you prefer bright, bold colours or subtle, muted tones, ContextMinds gives you the tools to create a concept map that is unique and visually appealing.

Overall, ContextMinds is a powerful and intuitive tool for visually creating and organizing your ideas. Its constantly updated list of related words and phrases, the ability to add new concepts and relationships, and the ability to change lines and nodes make it a very useful tool for creative thinking. Whether you’re a visual learner or simply looking for a new tool to boost your creativity, ContextMinds is worth a closer look.

Maximize Your Brainstorming Sessions with ContextMinds

Pros & Cons Of Contextminds

Conclusion

ContextMinds is a powerful and intuitive tool for visually creating and organizing your ideas. Its main features include a list of related words and phrases that provide creativity and inspiration, and the ability to change the look of your lines and nodes to reflect your personal style.

One of ContextMinds’ unique features is its constantly updating list of suggested keywords, which comes from various sources, including Wikipedia, your previous concept maps, and maps created by others in the application. This feature provides a constantly changing source of inspiration and ideas that can help you expand your concept map and stimulate your thinking.

According to the developer, In the future, ContextMinds may allow users to integrate their own custom word lists into the application, according to the developer. This can be a powerful feature for problem-solvers and creative thinkers, who may have their own list of catalysts they want to use with the application.

Overall, ContextMinds is a valuable tool for creative thinking and idea capture. Its unique features and customization options make it a versatile and effective tool for visually capturing and organizing your ideas. Whether you’re a visual learner or simply looking for a new tool to boost your creativity, ContextMinds is worth a closer look.

FAQs