You are interested in mind mapping and the use of it. It may be that you’ve seen articles about the direction or trends in mind mapping this year or before. Some even propose that mind mapping can even move into ‘main stream’ this year.
I believe mind mapping is still not really where it should be. In fact… evidence supports this. Have a look with me.
To investigate the growth of mind mapping, I used Google trends. It may be safe to assume that the more people search on mindmap related keywords, the more people are interested.
Sure, when we all know how to mindmap we don’t need to google on the keyword, but that’s not the case yet.
Google allows us to go back until 2004. I examined the keyword: MINDMAP, MIND MAPPING, MINDMAPPING.
Do you think the number of searches has grown from 2004 till now for these words?
It is sad to see that since 2004, the number of searches has not really taken of. The three different search terms are shown below. The search volume is relative to the beginning of 2004, hence the vertical axis showing 1.00, 1.50, etc.
At the bottom of the graph, you find the trend in news related trends Google records. These are growing (slowly) – note that they are not scaled.
MIND MAPPING
MIND MAP
MINDMAPPING
To me, this shows that mind mapping is not really moving into main stream (yet). The number of searches even seem to decrease over time.
Here is an overview for the three search terms in one graph
MINDMAP (=1), MIND MAPPING, MINDMAPPING
Here is the last image I think is interesting. Something which was not yet really big in 2004 but really moved into main stream: a blog.
MINDMAP (=1), MIND MAPPING, MINDMAPPING, BLOG
My questions for you are:
- How can we move mind mapping into main stream?
- Why hasn’t this happened yet?
- Should mind mapping be a main stream tool?
I look forward to talking with you on this.
Unleash your mindmaps!
Arjen
P.S.: Be sure you signup for the free reports and to receive the email newsletter (top right on this page)
Popularity: 4% [?]
Related posts:
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think the reason that mindmapping has not picked up is that it is not used in education. I remember going to school and having to take notes the normal way, the way they taught me. They never showed us another way of capturing information. I think that this should be taught in schools and I think with that you would see mindmaps hitting the mainstream.
I came across them probably about 2004 and I started using them in college. It was a great asset for notes, presentations, and readings.
Hi Trisha,
I think you are right. When we all would learn how to use it early in life, we would probably use it much more. Here in The Netherlands I often hear from teachers that they can’t learn children to use it. There just isn’t enough time… so they say.
The same is true for speed reading and memory training. How many schools are actually teaching this…
Hopefully more schools start to educate their students in this.