• Who am I?

    I am Qrystal; or at least, that's my dot-name! Har har. (My name is really Crystal, but that's not as internet-searchable; hence, switching the C for the little-used letter Q.)

    I am here because I enjoy writing. I do this mostly for myself, but I also have a passion for helping others learn things from the things I write. Now that I am done my Ph.D. in Physics, I am stepping away from academic research so that I can indulge in some creative ways to share my knowledge and inspire the appreciation of scientific thinking in others. I am also working as a tutor, which is one of the jobs I've most enjoyed doing in my life so far.


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    • Concept Mapping with VUE

    Posted by Qrystal on October 17, 2008 at 12:37.
    Category: Tools. Tags: computer, mindmapping.

    Concept maps are … free form, [with] multiple hubs and clusters [that] can be created, unlike mindmaps which fix on a single conceptual center.

    This quote from the concept map article at Wikipedia clearly summarizes why I should’ve been looking at concept mapping all along, instead of trying to constrain myself to the formats available in mind mapping software. I must’ve tried a dozen different mindmappers before I realized that I was having a problem with the basic premise, not the actual software. I really wanted a way to map out how concepts interrelate, not just how thoughts stem out from one concept!

    Anyways, the point is: I found an awesomely flexible, Open Source beauty called VUE: Visual Understanding Environment. Even the meaning of its acronym speaks volumes to me! I am immensely pleased with this find, and highly recommend it to anyone who likes to think, analyze, understand, explore, connect, or even just play with ideas.

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