Constructing a morphological box with a flow chart program

Searching in the internet for a software program, which is spezialising onto morphological analysis was without success.

There has been developed a software program at the institute of the Swedish Morphological Society. ( http://www.swemorph.com/index.html ) But one cannot buy it.

Therefore we have to use other software programs to prepare a morphological box. In principal each program, with which we can create a table or arrange words or symbols on the computer screen and apply hyperlinks to them, can be used.

But if one looks at Word for instance, with its table function or Excel then one finds out after some time, that they are not flexible enough, to change the structure of the morphological box.

The best for the time being is therefore in my opinion, to use a flow chart program. A lot of flow charting programs are available, but I do not want to make a comparison of them here and focus only on one, to explain, how it can be used to construct a morphological box.

This program is called Edge Diagrammer ( http://pacestar.com/edge/index.html ) As usual, one should download a free trial and check it thoroughly and also compare it with others, to find out, which has all needed features and which one likes best.

All the diagrams, which usually are drawn with a flow charting program, can also be drawn with Edge Diagrammer. But it is also possible to draw concept maps with it, because one can link boxes with links and add text to the links. The important difference to many other flow charting program is, that this label keeps to be fixed at the link, also when the structure of the diagram gets changed. ( it is a mess to rearrange all labels, after one has moved some boxes )

There is no template for a table structure available in Edge Diagram, but it is easy, to draw one and then use it as a template.

Just arrange boxes in form of a table, with rows and columns and titles in the first column and the first row. Then in each cell of this table, the title of the row and the column are written. Using a hyperlink, one then can link this cell to a text document, in which all needed information and comments are written about this special combination of features. ( all documents should be in the same file, together with the flowchart, so that it is easy to make a back up )

Using colours for the boxes, it is also possible to classify all cells; what is impossible, very difficulty to realize and onto what should one focus.

Comparison of some mind mapping programs

Mind Mapping is a very useful method to make brain storming, analyze problems, structure information and prepare reports, Power Point presentations and web sites. There are many mind mapping programs available now and all have some different features.

Here 4 of them are compared in regard of the offered features and in which application they have their special strengths:

• FreeMind
• ConceptDraw MindMap
• MindManager
• iMindMap
  

Toni Buzan has developed the concept of mind maps decades ago. He argues, that our thinking gets supported by drawing mind maps, because then both halves of our brain can better communicate.

And he developed some rules, how a mind map should be drawn, because he thinks, that this supports also our thinking and memorizing the mind map.

But that is only his personal conviction and no scientific investigation has been done as far as I know, that he is correct. And you can find quite controversial discussion about his claims.

A mind map is a graphical representation of an outline, like that of a book. At first comes the title of the book, thereafter the chapters and to each chapter sub chapters etc.

In the graphical representation of an outline, the title of the book is written down in the middle of a page, the names of the chapters are written in a circle around. In the next circle the sub chapters are written etc.

This representation is practical, because more space gets available for representing more and more details, by forming circles with increasing radiuses.


A free software is FreeMind. It can be downloaded at:

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/

As far as I know, it is the only mind map program, which uses also mind map in its help file. And it is best anyway, to study the help file at first, so that one gets an overview of all available features.

Included are all tools to create a mind map and powerful import- and export functions:

• main branches and sub branches and formatting of them
• hyperlinks to websites, local folders,executable programs and any document on the computer
• icons can be added to any node of a branch
• branches can be connected
• search functions
• folding nodes, to see more details or hide them
• export to html, a bitmap, a vector picture
• import of a folder structure. This is an excellent tool, to get access to all files of a hard disk
• import of mind maps from MindManager version 5
• integration with Microsoft Word and Outlook
• print of the total mind map on one page or on several pages
• use pictures in the nodes
  

Therefore FreeMind has most of the features, which are useful, to make it a valuable tool for daily work.

What else then, do offer the commercially available mind map programs like:

• MindManager from MindJet http://www.mindjet.com/

• ConceptDraw MindMap http://www.conceptdraw.com/en/products/mindmap/main.php?from_trial

Both offer plug ins, so that the mind map can be used, to create Gannt Charts for project management. Also support to create a web site is given, but only very limited.

If one does not need these features, then there is no reason to buy these programs, because they do not offer more useful features than FreeMind.

On the website of Toni Buzan is offered his relatively new mind map program, which is called Buzan´s iMindMap, probably in analogy to the iPod from Apple.

http://www.buzanonline.com/


What more or other features offers this program ?

• the installation on my computer was the longest of any software program, which I ever installed. Therefore be patient.

• Buzan tries to apply all his rules. The branches of the mind map shall look like the branches of a tree, getting thinner and thinner.

• the form of the branches can get distorted

• export to Microsoft Word is possible.

• Export to Powerpoint, with several features, to adjust the Power Point presentation.

• Import of mind maps from MindManager; the mind map must be saved in xml format, before importing it to iMindMap

• Import of mind maps from FreeMind

The only strength of iMindMap compared to the others, is the export to PowerPoint and the organic looking branches, which may be important for those, who like that.

iMindMap is not to handle as intuitively and easy as the other programs.

Therefore my recommendation is:

• For the beginner of mind mapping, FreeMind offers enough features.
  
• Who needs to do project managing, ConceptDraw MindMap is sufficient, if he needs only Gannt Diagrams
• if he also needs export to Projectmanager from Microsoft, then he has to buy MindManager.
• iMindMap has advantages only for those, who are specializing to prepare some nice looking mind maps or use it for exporting mind maps to PowerPoint. One other important strength of iMindMap is, that it runs under Windows, Apple Mac and under Linux. That may be important for those, who cooporate with others, which have the other operation systems.
  

The morphological box

The morphological box is a heuristic, but systematic method to analyse a problem, do inventions or design new products. It was developed by the Swiss astronomer Zwicky and applied to find solutions to astronomical problems.
___________________________________________________
Zwicky apparently was an enthusiastic teacher, who inspired his students, which is demonstrated by following example

( found at the biography of Fritz Zwicky, written by Roland Mueller: http://www.muellerscience.com/SPEZIALITAETEN/Morphologie/FZ_Biography_1932_1941_english.htm )

“At another time Zwicky promised his class free day if somebody could prove by logic that 10 is an even number. The next morning stood at the blackboard:


Through subtraction

SIX 6
-( IX 9 )
_______
S -3



SEVEN 7
-( S - 3
______________
EVEN 10



The students were allowed to ski on this day.”

__________________________________________________________________
The simplest morphological box is a table with rows and columns. It is also possible, to extend it to several dimensions. A 3rd dimension could be shown, using colours.

To work efficiently with such more complicated problems, computers should be used. In mathematical language, one has to deal with matrices of several dimensions. Each element of the matrix is a combination of several parameters, which can be relevant for the problem. But not all combinations are possible, because of restrictions, set by physical laws, budget limits etc.

An interesting kind of a morphological box is one, in which the columns represent the time line and the rows the speakers in a debate. In each cell of the table the text of the speaker at that time can get activated by clicking the cell.

Have a look at:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/11/28/us/politics/20071128_DEBATE_GRAPHIC.html#transcript


The same method one can use to categorize all reports. Putting a short title in each cell of a table and hyper linking it to the folder, in which the report is saved, gives a quick access to all reports.

A very good report about morphological analysis ( or morphological box) is available for download at:

http://www.swemorph.com/ma.html

Problem solver teams

Problems can get solved very efficiently in a team, but some precautions must be observed:

• the team members should have different know how

• all team members must be willing to cooperate in an open minded manner

• the results of the team work must be attributed to the team and not to one member only

In companies with a hierarchical structure, the team moderator is in many cases also the boss. This can be a problem, if the boss is very dominating.

Nowadays problem solver teams can get formed globally, using the internet with video conferencing. A core team can do the main structuring and organizing of the meetings via internet and distribute problems to other more specialized teams.

The results of the meetings must be documented in a well structured way, and distributed to all team members, so that all are informed, what is going on.

It is helpful to build a common data base, using a good text retrieval program, like for instance asksam.

Such programs have following features:

• structured ( using templates) and non structured information can be stored in the same data base.

• Boolean search functions and indexing of each word or number in the database is possible. The indexing is very important, because when one does not know, which words are used in the database, then the Boolean search is useless.

• Reports can be written to create sub data bases or print outs of the relevant information

• The database can get encrypted and access to it can be limited to only parts of the database.

Besides a text retrieval program also a visual data base like TheBrain is very useful. TheBrain is an associative database, using hyperlinks. It has also indexing. It is very easy to navigate in it and find any piece of information.

But it is not easy, to create sub data bases or reports. Therefore I recommend TheBrain to collect information and thereafter to use asksam.

asksam:
http://www.asksam.com/

TheBrain
http://www.thebrain.com/

Mikogo is a screen sharing software

Mikogo is a screen sharing software. Several people can be invited, to have a look, what is shown on a computer screen.

This is very convenient in combination with skype. It is possible to integrate Mikogo into Skype, but I think, it is better, to use it parallel. If the internet connection with Skype should collapse, then there is a chance, that Mikogo still works; at least it tries to connect again.

Mikogo-website:
http://www.mikogo.com

The software is free for download

• download the software from http://www.mikago.com; either the versions for Windows or the version for Mac. R egister; the user name and the password will be sent per email to you

• download the user guide, which is in pdf format, save it on your hard disk and study it.

• to start Mikogo: the button of Mikogo is shown in the tool button

• starting Mikogo

give in your user name (emailadress) and your pass word and your name
activate: load Mikogo at start up

• invite others

1. start Mikogo, by clicking on the tool button
2. in the Menu use: start meeting
3. a menu shows up: got to www.Mikogo.com and click on Join Meeting
   

• enter meeting ID

• enter your Name ( name of participant )

• click join meeting

These information must be sent to all participants per email, to invite them for the meeting. They must respond during 15 minutes. If they respond, they can see the computer screen of the invitor.

If a password has been used for the meeting, the participants must give in the password in a second window

Lock meeting: after all participants have arrived

4. end of meeting

click M in the tool button and select End Meeting

Skype must be opened independently from Mikogo.

5. other features of Mikogo

• pause: activate the M icon, select pause transmission; computer screen is not shown. Activate again by selecting Continue Transmissiowhiteboard: drawings can be made on the computer screen, on top of what is already shown
• closing the whiteboard, select x in the top right corner
• switch presenter: computer screen of a participant is shown, The participant must agre
• remote control: presenter can control the other screens, when he gets the permission.
• send files
• share applications: select application selection
• back monitor: shows a small screen of the presenters screen on his own screen for controllin
• recording of meetings
• end meeting: click x on the top right corner
• scheduler: can be started before the meeting. The same ID number can be used for future meeting