Personal
Mind Manager
a very personal information manager
(5-Jan-2001)
Contents
2.1
What
is “Personal Mind Manager”
2.2
The
“Personal Mind Manager” philosophy
3.
Examples of user interface screens
Personal
Mind Manager is a personal information manager (PIM) with three general
usages; in fact it is, at the same time:
1)
an
organizer, i.e. a tool for managing any kind of personal information such as
tasks, events, contacts, notes, file links, web links etc.
2)
an
image viewer
3)
a
mind stimulator useful for reflection, self-analysis and self-improvement
All
textual information is contained in one or more Microsoft Access 2000
databases protected by keywords (however, installation of Access 2000 is not
needed). The information is divided in 20 usage domains and an unlimited
number of categories.
Personal Mind Manager offers in a single program the functionality of most PIM applications, but has some unique features hardly to be found in other products, like the possibility of displaying the stored information not only as a grid or list, but also as a calendar, a tree map, a tag map, a random map or a “slide-show” of random items, with auto-tile, drag & drop functionality and various kinds of animations. These features, used with appropriate contents, can help the user to memorize the displayed material or, in a self-improvement perspective, can be used as a mind stimulator and facilitate self-analysis, meditation, confronting, self-suggestion, etc..
Personal
Mind manager is an enhanced version of Personal
Organizer. In Personal Organizer only the functions "organizer"
and "image viewer" are available.
You can download Personal Mind Manager free of charge from http://space.tin.it/computer/bcancell/.
Personal
Mind Manager is a personal information manager (PIM) with three general
usages; in fact it is, at the same time:
1)
an
organizer, i.e. a tool for managing tasks, contacts, notes and other personal
information:
·
with
Personal Mind Manager you can manage actions, engagements and time schedules,
you can record and retrieve all sorts of information such as study notes,
instructions, quotations, translations of technical terms or foreign words,
chronologies, postal addresses, telephone numbers, file and directory paths,
e-mail addresses, web addresses, prices, budget elements, inventories,
indexes, catalogues of books or other media, a journal, etc. in a homogeneous,
integrated system;
·
all
textual information is contained in a Microsoft Access relational database and
protected by a keyword;
·
the
collected information can be organized according to pure hierarchical or mixed
hierarchical-reticular logical structures, and may include hypertext links to
objects residing inside or the outside the program;
·
every
structure created with Personal Mind Manager can be displayed in any of the
following ways:
o
table:
i.e. a grid-like panel
o
calendar:
organized by month and day (only for information associated with and expiry
date/time)
o
tree
map: i.e. a
hierarchical organization structure with roots, branches and leaves
o
tag
map: i.e. a
map of text tags aligned to form one or more columns
o
random
map: i.e. a
map of tags randomly positioned and randomly animated (containing text or
images)
o
random
item: i.e. a
slide show of single tags randomly chosen (with text and/or images)
2)
an
image viewer:
·
Personal
Mind Manager can display images, thumbnails and slide shows based on jpg, gif
and bmp files; it can be used as a standalone image viewer or in conjunction
with the other Personal Mind Manager functionalities.
4)
a
mind stimulator useful for reflection, self-analysis and self-improvement
·
thanks
to its special information management method, privacy, ease of use, Personal
Mind Manager may be useful to those who need to make order and clarity in
their minds, as it offers an environment to record everything which may help
us to know ourselves better, remind the essential facts of our lives, examine
our situation, understand what we can and what we want to change, define
objectives and pursue them in a rational way, analyse and adjust our
expectations and aspirations; by using Personal Mind Manager as a tool for
reflecting, we can train our mind to function in a more efficient way, make
our thought more voluntary and effective, develop the capability to choose and
take decisions in a rational way, overcome mental laziness, stimulate
intelligence, imagination and creativity
·
thanks
to the different modes of displaying the same information (especially the tag
map, random map and random item), Personal Mind Manager may facilitate the
practise of self-analysis, confronting, self-suggestion etc. in order to
overcome inhibitions, fears, timidity, unjustified guilt and inferiority
feelings and other mental difficulties; in fact, Personal Mind Manager makes
it possible to stimulate our mind with information consisting of text and/or
images capable of triggering emotional reactions of which we would like to get
rid, or which we would like to correct or reconcile somehow. A sufficient
number of stimulation sessions will cause a reduction or neutralization of the
unwished emotional reactions and the liberation of ideas and mental energies
which where inhibited by them; Personal Mind Manager may thus enable us to
face ideas and thoughts which we normally tend to avoid, develop self-control
and will power, solve internal conflicts and prevent our mind from being
monopolized by some of its
components to the detriment of other.
Personal
Mind Manager has been designed bearing in mind that a PIM application should
be simpler and easier to use than most business information management
applications. While a business application is normally indispensable for a
business to function, a PIM application is
something a human being can live without. Therefore, using a PIM makes sense
only if the problems it solves and the advantages it brings are more valuable
than the time and effort needed to learn how to use it and the self-discipline
required to use it effectively.
Most
PIM applications have been conceived for a small number of specific usage
domains and offer a rich set of functions and options to do their particular
job. Personal Mind Manager has been conceived for an unlimited number of
domains, with a common interface and a set of generally applicable functions.
This implies, among other things, the possibility of working on several usage
domains simultaneously, and a global visibility of all collected information,
especially as regards search and filtering functions. As a consequence of this
approach, Personal Mind Manager requires very little learning effort and
discipline in spite of its versatility.
Personal
Mind Manager offers in a single program the functionality of many conventional
PIM applications, but has some unique features hardly to be found in other
products, like the possibility of displaying the stored information not only
as a grid or list, but also as a calendar, a tree map, a tag map, a random
item map, or a slide-show of items randomly chosen , with auto-tile, drag
& drop functionality and various kinds of animations. These features, used
with appropriately prepared records consisting of text and/or images, can help
the user to memorize the displayed material or, in a self-improvement perspective, can be used as a mind
stimulator and facilitate self-analysis, meditation, confronting,
self-suggestion, etc..
To
avoid unnecessary complexity, Personal Mind Manager can be configured to make
visible (in toolbar and menus) only the usage domains the user is interested
in.
Customized
versions of the program can be produced on request. Customizations may include
additional data types, additional procedures and additional presentation
modes. Special version can be produced with company logo and company specific
information (such as company description, products catalogue automatically
updated via Internet), for company internal use or as business gifts.
You
can download Personal Mind Manager free of charge from http://space.tin.it/computer/bcancell/.
The
figure shows the main window with the tool bar (the first 20 icons represent
the 20 collections -- i.e. usage domains -- supported in version 1.0). Inside
the main window are three tag maps and one table, all belonging to collection
“Agenda”.
The
figure shows the screen recalled by the “calendar” function. The first
panel on the left-hand side is used to select month and day. The list on the
right-hand side shows the events whose expiry date or remind date matches the
selected day. Under the calendar panel, the next 42 days from the current day
are shown, and the number of events whose expiry date or remind date matches
each day.
The
two subsequent lists show, respectively, the events whose expiry date or
remind date is already elapsed, and the events whose expiry date or remind
date matches the current date.
The
bottom panel is used to modify, delete the events shown in any of the above
lists, and to insert new events.
The
figure shows a random map of all items of collection “Persons”. Tags
having a link to an image file are represented as images, the other as text
tags. Tags and images can automatically move mocking the fishes in an
aquarium, change their color (except
for the images) and one of them is randomly selected and emphasized.
Emphasized tags are shown with a larger font, emphasized images are shown with
a colored frame.
The
figure shows a random item frame without image. The frame can update itself
with other items randomly selected and change its position and colours. The
change can occur automatically (periodically) or by command. The selected
items may belong to a given collection or tag map or to the set of filtered
records of a table. More than one random item frame can be shown at the same
time. If an image file is associated to the selected item, the image will also
be displayed.
The
picture shows the form used to configure the collection preferences. For every
collection, the user can choose to make it visible or invisible (in toolbar
and menus) and, if visible, can choose the default display format for the
collection and the category (tag map or table).
The
figure shows the main context menu. The four submenus “Open ... from
collection” refer to the 20 collections supported in version 1.0 of the
program and represented by the first 20 icons in the toolbar.
The
figure shows a tag map where the option “show content box” is active, and
the map’s context menu. The “~” symbol attached to the item title
indicates that the item content is not null. The figure shows also the edit
window for the item content, which can contain up to 65,535 characters.
The
figure shows two tables and the “pad” (a storage area not belonging to any
collection). In the Contacts table the lookup list for the category field is
shown (the same list applies to the lookup on the category filter). The
content of the lookup list is automatically updated as new categories are
created or categories are renamed or deleted.
The
figure shows a “tree map”, where all items are represented in their
hierarchical position. There is a root for every collection, under which
categories and items are placed. The text box on the right side of the tree
map shows the item’s content, if available.
The
main features of Personal Mind Manager are summarized in the following list:
All textual data are stored in a Microsoft
Access 2000 database and can also be manipulated with Microsoft Access
2000; user can select the database to work with. Installation of Access
2000 is not required. |
Password protection of databases; the user can
change the password of any database from within the program |
20 “collections”
(i.e. usage domains or repositories) extendable and modifiable on
customised versions of the program |
Unlimited number of categories for each
collection |
Multiple views of the same data (table,
calendar, tree map, tag map, random map, random item) |
Image viewing: -
displays single images, thumbnails and slide
shows -
can search image files (with string in file
name) through directory trees -
dynamic thumbnail and slide shows generation
based on the content of a directory or the results of the file search |
Drag/drop of records inside tables, tag maps
and between tag maps |
Global search (on all attributes of all
collections) or collection-based search (on all attributes of a given
collection) |
Record filtering on single or multiple
attributes (with and/or logical operators) |
Ascending/descending sorting of records based
on columns selected by mouse click |
Input of collection and category names by
means of look-up lists automatically updated |
Executes www links, “mail-to” links, file
links, directory links directly from program |
Capture of file and directory links through
navigation window |
Optional automatic sum of numeric expressions
in filtered records of any collection |
Easy input of dates from calendar forms |
Standard clipboard cut/copy/paste
functionality |
Automatic saving of previous copies of
database (up to 4 previous versions are kept) |
Size of tables and maps dynamically adjustable |
Optional auto-size of tag maps |
Size and positions of tables and maps
automatically saved and restored |
Font size dynamically adjustable |
Multiple ways of entering data: into grid
rows, record forms or input boxes |
Program lock and hide without quitting and
without loss of context: password based, manual or automatic (after an
inactivity period) |
The
basic concepts of Personal Mind Manager and their meaning are summarized in
the following table:
Concept |
Meaning |
Database |
File of Microsoft Access 2000 format where all information handled by Personal Mind Manager is stored. At start-up, the program will automatically
select the database used in the previous session, if it still exists.
The user can change the current database at any time, through the
relevant function. Data can be imported/exported into/from the
database by using Microsoft Access 2000. However, the installation of
Microsoft Access 2000 is not necessary for using Personal Mind Manager. |
Password |
The use of a database can be restricted by
means of a password. This password is the same one used by Access 2000
to open the database. The user can change the password by means of the
relevant function of Personal Mind Manager. |
Record |
Elementary information structure, with the
following attributes (fields): ·
Collection (see table 5.1 below for the
collections defined in version 1.0 of
Personal Mind Manager) ·
Category (max. 255 characters, can be any
value) ·
Mark (max. 50 characters) ·
Id (max. 255 characters) ·
Title (max. 255 characters) ·
Content (max. 65,535 characters) ·
Date expiry ·
Date remind The names “category”, “id”, “title”
and “content” may be replaced by aliases as described in table 5.2
below. Triplets formed by collection, category and
title are unique in the database. Trying to create two items with the
same triplet will cause a warning and the optional automatic addition of
a sequence number to the record title. |
Item |
Same as “record” |
Collection |
An attribute of record representing a usage
domain. See table 5.1 below for the collections defined in version 1.0
of Personal Mind Manager. Collections are predefined and cannot be created or deleted by the
user. However, upon request, special versions of Personal Mind Manager
can be produced with a customised set of collections. |
Category |
A division of collection, used to group
records according to any given criteria. The user can freely create and eliminate
categories, and give them any names. |
Id |
An optional attribute of record, which may be
used to assign a unique identification number to each record; the
program can automatically default this attribute's value as the maximum
number +1 found in this attribute for all records of the collection. |
Table |
A window
containing a grid of rows and columns representing a number of
records selected according to given filters; one table can be opened for
each collection, plus a table for all collections together |
Tree map |
A map showing all the items in their
hierarchical position (works similarly to the directory tree of the
Windows file explorer). |
Tag map |
A window containing a number of panels
arranged in a tile fashion |
Top map |
A tag map representing all the collections
(each panel representing one collection) |
Collection map |
A tag map representing a given collection
(each panel representing a category belonging to the collection) |
Item map |
A tag map representing all the records
associated with a given category of a given collection (each panel
represents one record) |
Start map |
The tag map which will be opened by executing
the “Open start map” command. The user can assign the role of “start
map” to any tag map by means of the command “Set this map as start
map”. |
Calendar |
A window where the following is displayed: -
a graphical monthly calendar, where the user
can select a month and a day -
a list containing all the elements whose “date
expiry” or “date remind” matches the day selected in the calendar -
a list containing all the elements whose “date
expiry” or “date remind” is past -
a list containing all the elements whose “date
expiry” or “date remind” matches today’s date -
text windows and buttons to modify, add and
delete items |
Random map |
A window containing a number of tags (each tag
representing a record) randomly positioned, (optionally randomly moving and randomly changing colour);
a random map is obtained from a table and includes all visible the
records of the table |
Random item |
A frame displaying collection, category, item
title and attached image (if available) of an item randomly chosen,
belonging to a given map, a given collection or all collections. It can
be updated periodically or by manual command. Previous values can be
shown by pressing the backspace key. Frame position and colours can be
chosen randomly. |
Mark |
An optional attribute of record, which may be
used to temporarily group specific records together by means of a filter
applied to the attribute. |
Date expiry |
An optional attribute of records, used to
specify when a given action should be carried out at the latest. |
Date remind |
An optional attribute of records, used to
specify when a given action should be reminded by means of an alarm. |
Filter |
A character string used as a selection
criteria for records in a table; filters may be applied to the
attributes collection, category, mark, item_id, item title, item
content. |
Reference |
A particular instance of a record title
representing a pointer to another record or category of the same
collection or a different one. The first two character of a record title
containing a reference should be “> “. |
File link |
A path to a file or directory, preceded by the
string “LINK=” placed in the first line of the “content”
attribute of a record. It allows the user to open the file or directory
by double-clicking the row or tag representing the record |
Internet URL |
A web address placed in the first line of the
“content” attribute of a record. It allows the user to open the web
browser with that address by double-clicking the row or tag representing
the record. Valid addresses contain one of the following strings: “www.”,
“http://”, “.htm” |
E-mail
link |
An internet e-mail address (in the form
prefix@suffix) placed in any position of the “content” attribute of
a record. It allows the user to generate an e-mail with that address by
double-clicking the row or tag representing that record |
Look-up |
A combination of a text box and a pushbutton,
the pressure of which triggers the display of a list of possible values
for the text box. Look-ups exist for entering collections, categories,
collection filters and category filters. The text box can be filled
either by means of the lookup list, or by typing into the text box. |
Context menu |
A list of available functions applicable to a
given window or window component. Context menus are normally invisible
and can be opened by clicking with the mouse's right button on the
relevant window or window component |
Hot key |
A combination of keys (also known as “shortcut”)
for a quick recall of program functions and available in the various
context menus. |
Registration code |
A code (provided by the Personal Mind Manager
supplier) which should be entered in Personal Mind Manager in order to
unlock its normal functionality; without a valid registration code the
functionality of the program is limited in various ways in order to
discourage the use of unregistered copies. |
Request code |
A code generated by Personal Mind Manager
(unique in each installation) based on which the supplier can generate a
registration code valid only for the relevant installation. |
Table
5.1 Collections defined in version 1.0 of Personal Mind Manager
Collection |
Typical use of records
contained in the collection |
Agenda |
actions to be done, events, scheduled alarms, plans,
objectives and similar info |
Contacts |
names
of persons or organizations, their addresses and phone numbers |
File links |
paths
of frequently used files or directories |
Internet URLs |
URL's
of frequently accessed web sites |
Money |
income
and expense records, prices, accounting |
Journal |
log
book with optional automatic setting of date/time at insertion of each
new record |
Books |
catalogue of books |
Media |
catalogue of media
(audio, visual etc.) |
Glossary |
glossary
of terms |
Encyclopedia |
study
notes on any subjects |
World chrono |
(world chronology) important historic dates or periods and
what happened then |
Myself |
all
aspects of myself, my personality, character, temperament, health,
social situation and any other attributes of mine |
Personal chrono |
(personal
chronology) important dates or periods of my life and what happened then |
Persons |
persons I have met in my life and what they meant and mean
to me |
Favorites |
preferences of any kind, pleasant things,
beautiful things, amusements, humour, jokes, food, cuisine, sports,
hobbies |
Wisdom |
moral,
religious, philosophical, psychological considerations and beliefs,
self-advices, maxims, quotations, etc. |
Improvement |
(self-improvement) material for self-analysis, confronting,
self-suggestion etc. |
Profession |
my profession:
competences, technical dictionary, concepts, study notes, things to
remember |
Mix |
(miscellany) anything
which does not fit in other collections |
Apx |
(appendix) extensions of material included in other
collections |
Table
5.2: Aliases for record attributes in version 1.0 of Personal Mind Manager
Collection |
Category alias |
Id alias |
Title alias |
Content alias |
Agenda |
Category |
Id |
Action |
Details |
Contacts |
Category |
Id |
Contact |
Description |
File links |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Path |
Internet URLs |
Category |
Id |
Name |
URL |
Money |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Note |
Journal |
Category |
Id |
Date |
Note |
Books |
Category |
Id |
Author or interpreter |
Title |
Media |
Category |
Id |
Author or interpreter |
Title |
Glossary |
Category |
Id |
Term |
Description |
Encyclopedia |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Note |
World chrono |
Category |
Id |
Year |
What |
Myself |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Content |
Personal chrono |
Category |
Id |
Year |
What |
Persons |
Category |
Id |
Person |
Note |
Favorites |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Note |
Wisdom |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Note |
Improvement |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Note |
Profession |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Note |
Mix |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Note |
Apx |
Category |
Id |
Title |
Note |
[end
of document]