ChatGPT helped me to write this article about mind mapping

I was interested to see if ChatGPT was going to be a useful writing assistant. For my experiment, I chose a simple topic that would be easy to fact check.

As many people have commented, the results you get from ChatGPT depend on how you phrase your query. After experimenting, I found that basing a query on the classic 5W1H framework gave reasonable results, for a variety of topics. So, I asked ChatGPT to, "Describe the what, why, who, where, when and how of mind mapping".

ChatGPT's response, seemed resonably accurate and so I decided to turn it into an article to post on LinkedIn. I refined ChatGPT's initial ideas in Obsidian. You can read about the work flow I used on Twitter and Mastodon.

Here is the article...

1 Introduction to mind maps

Mind maps are a powerful visual technique for organising ideas. The simplicity of mind maps, coupled with their versatility, means that they are easy to learn and can be applied to many different areas. Mind maps can be powerful tools for improving the productivity of both groups and individuals.

2 What is a mind map

Mind mapping is a visual representation of information and ideas, using a central topic or idea and branching out to related concepts and sub-topics.

2.1 Advantages of mind maps

Zoomable

• Presents the “big picture”...
• ...with the ability to “zoom” in on detail

Holistic

• Topics can be seen in their context
• Relationship between topics are easily visible
• Encourages insight

Compact

• More compact than text
• Easier to restructure and change

Navigable

• Topics can be read randomly rather than sequentially
• Not necessary to sequence topics
• Easier to jump from one topic to the next
• Easier to backtrack to a previous topic

2.2 Disadvantages of mind maps

• Requires practice
• Knowing when to stop
• Some people prefer pictures or text

3 Why are mind maps useful

Mind mapping helps to organise and structure information, allowing for better understanding and retention of the material. It also allows for creative and flexible thinking, as it encourages connections and associations between ideas.

4 Who uses mind maps

Mind mapping is useful for individuals of all ages and professions, as it can be applied to a variety of subjects and tasks.

For example:

? Innovation and problems solving

? Finance and management

? Project planning

? Risk analysis

? Quality improvement

5 When is the best time to draw a mind map

Mind mapping can be used at any time during the process of gathering, organising, and presenting information. It can be used to brainstorm ideas, plan projects, or summarise information.

6 What tools can be used to draw mind maps

Mind mapping can be done on paper or digitally, using a variety of tools such as pen and paper, whiteboards, or mind mapping software.

7 How do you draw a mind map

To create a mind map, start with a central topic or idea and draw it in the centre of the page. Branch out from the central topic with lines, and add related concepts and sub-topics along the lines. Use colours, images, and labels to further organise and clarify the information.