WikiMindMap – Mapping out Wikipedia
Whether you like it or hate it, you’ve got to respect Wikipedia. And while you can debate about the level of accuracy versus other sources, you can’t really argue with the fact that there’s an immense amount of information there. So much so that it can be rather overwhelming at times.
WikiMindMap attempts to make browsing through Wikipedia a touch easier but giving you a visual trail to walk through. It strips out all the content, leaving behind a map of all links out of an article, both internal and external. You can click on any link to have it pop open a new window with that article, or click on the ‘refresh’ icons to shift that topic to the center of the mind map. Table of Contents categories are collapseable, which does make things a little neater.
Would I use this when I’m searching for a specific nugget of information? No way. But it would be a good way to try to follow a trail around when you aren’t quite sure what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re searching for significant influences and events regarding a person in history, this might be a good way to explore.
Monday morning video break
Ever try to explain what a wiki is to somebody and just getting a blank stare in return? This video may help. I really enjoyed their RSS video as well, and hope they continue to create more. There’s something about using paper cutouts that make things seem easy and accessible to people who may not be all that comfortable with technology.