Mind Mapping, if you are not aware, primarily uses non-linear methods and leans heavily on association and links. These very features of Mind Mapping lend the technique a great deal of power and simplicity, and the resourcefulness of the technique emerges only from the actual application. You will find that Mind Mapping greatly facilitates group activities and hence is ideal for Brainstorming, Project Planning, Presentation and whole lot of other applications as you can creatively apply.

What is of significance is that Mind Maps are a great boon in large business corporations, where thousands of executives or employees have to undergo training, or managers are involved in Meetings, Presentations, Brainstorming, Seminars, and wide range of other activities. When Mind Maps are applied in these sessions, you will be fascinated by how the whole process takes on a new meaning and significance. People who have applied Mind Maps will vouch for the value they derived. Not surprising then that Boeing, Oracle EDS, Nabisco and other big companies that used the technique drew immense benefits. Testimonies to this are as follows:

A Boeing Aircraft Engineering Manual was condensed into a 25-foot long Mind Map to enable a team of 100 senior aeronautical engineers to learn in a few weeks, what took a few years earlier. This resulted in the company netting an estimated saving of $11 million.

In training courses, EDS Digital Computers and British Petroleum found that using Mind Maps brought in huge savings – as much as 80%. EDS and Nabisco have implemented group commando study program using Mind Maps and Mind Map Organic Study Technique on a group of 120 senior members. Results showed that they were able to condense and disseminate information amounting to 4-6 books in a day’s session. At Oxford and Cambridge Universities, students like Edward Hughes used group Mind Map to obtain, with minimal time and effort, high first class grades in examinations.

Alan Matcham of Oracle Corp., had introduced Mind Maps decades ago. As Director of Change Management, he had resorted to Mind Maps to communicate complex ideas, intra-departmental brainstorming, Presentations and for collating information into integrated units. Sargio Giacoletto, ex-Vice President of Oracle, Europe, is a great fan of Mind Mapping technique.

There are many more notable users, who have applied and continue to advocate Mind Map technique in different areas of their professional lives. In the hands of experienced users, Mind Maps find ready application in great many activities that requires clear thinking, exploring ideas at length, helping to find relationships amongst different elements, collating a gamut of information, planning, analysis, group interactions, and so on.

What is indeed a notable feature of Mind Map technique is that it makes for quick reading, easy assimilation and memory, and fast review. The non-linear method of using key words and phrases, apart from conveying the essence of thoughts, colors, pictures and symbols have deep mnemonic value, making reading a facile process. Since ideas are grouped under relevant headings with different levels of branches, the progression of thoughts and ideas can be very easily assimilated.

In addition, the relational significance between different elements of the subject matter under study is brought to bear instantly. Also, use of succinct messages converged and coalesced into a single integrated Mind Maps makes reviewing of the whole range of information double quick than the conventional method of involving long sentences and logical sequence. Besides, the ease of arranging ideas, capturing running thoughts and ideas, the personal involvement evoked and creativity it triggers makes Mind Mapping a distinct technique worth cultivating. Needless to say, all these and more render Mind Mapping not just as a perfect tool, but an indispensable life tool as well, finding application in a vast array of human activities, not just for business heads but every individual – from a child to adult.

Nothing beats that intuitive sense that says, “I know exactly where I’m going.” Unfortunately, we are simply not programmable, as robots are. We cannot just download directions into our brains to be stored forever, so we rely on maps. Over the years, mapping has become so much more than just street maps and road atlas functions. Today we use online maps to advise us on local businesses, news, weather, traffic and more.

Google Maps has become the template of choice for a number of local food maps. At Menurequest, you can plot restaurants on a map of your city, as well as read/write reviews, make reservations and get driving directions. In Philadelphia, Communitywalk is an amazing resource for local event organizers who want to ask a number of nearby restaurants to participate.

At Toeat, you will find a number of dining options in your neighborhood. In major cities like NY, Paris, Bangkok and Chicago, you will find baked goods at Yummybaguette. Or you may need to get your burrito fix at Burritophile. Drinkers can appreciate Wineandtimes, which helps plan a winery tour, as well as Drinktown, which lets you know all the local booze specials.

Google Maps is not the only “mashup maker” on the block, of course. A number of non-Google applications have popped up to serve a wide variety of functions. For instance, if you live on a fault line, then visit Lerdorf, as you may appreciate the “Real-Time Earthquake Map.” If you are looking for nearby bloggers, movie showtimes, gas prices or driving directions, then you can see “Atlas” (based on MSN’s Virtual Earth platform) at Atlas Freshlogicstudios.

One of the most popular mapping sites is Flickr, where amateur photographers can share their pictures and create maps of their favorite places, people and things. Readers have given rave reviews for Gutenkarte, where lit lovers can read full books (such as Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days”) chapter by chapter, while viewing a map of the locations discussed in the book. If you prefer news to fiction, don’t miss the world and local news at Mappedup or Poly9 Viavirtualearth (where MSNBC news is plotted out on a map!)

You can find directions on your computer, on your GPS device or even on your cell phone. The trend is that programmers are finding ways of bringing online maps to you, no matter where you are. For instance, if you find yourself lost somewhere with little time to recoup, never fear: Loki can track your location via satellite and send you a map to your next location on your mobile phone. A number of phones, from the iPhone to the Android G1, are making MapQuest, Google Maps and Yahoo Maps technology available to you when you are on-the-go.

The City of Dalaran is the center of Northrend where both Horde and Alliance are able to roam and go about their business in peace. Below that is the underbelly of the City, the Dalaran Sewers. Here is where mostly goblins dwell. It is the slums of Dalaran but is also where the Northrend arena map is set.

The map has many unique features not like any other arena map. The layout itself begins with you in a drainage pipe on the end of the map somewhat high above the ground. When the match starts you will either jump out of the pipe or be blasted out after a certain amount of time. Once on the ground, you will notice the center of the map is a square shaped raised part with stairs right where you drop down and 2 sets of boxes on either side. The map is a mirror image for your opponents as well. The last big thing to note is the large waterfall that will drop down in the very middle of the raised platform every once in a while. This is treated as a line-of-sight object so be ready for it. If you are near it when it drops you will be knocked back.

Using the boxes as your base of operations for those who need a line-of-sight object is perfect. Healers will often want to hug these only coming out to cast quickly and then duck back behind them. When up against a heavy ranged group, even your dps will not want to go far from these boxes as getting caught out in the open in a burst moment can prove fatal.

Be aware of the center raised parts edges as to not fall off accidentally or get knocked off by an elemental shaman during a critical moment. Even dropping down off the side will give you an LOS moment in a critical situation. But being down on the bottom while a caster is on the edge gives them free range of you and can be another fatal move if they catch you in a bad spot. All of these factors will need to be considered by you and your team in order to have control of the match. That is the key to most of these arena matches, not only knowing your strengths and weaknesses vs your opponents but also the arena maps. Sometimes a game comes down to a few HPs, every moment and extra strategy counts!

Those of you who are avid treasure hunters are probably all well familiar with maps which are completely undecipherable. Even older maps which were intended to be accurate portrayals of topography can be almost humorously inaccurate. The existence of a map dating from the middle ages, then, that could be used to correct errors in modern maps created as late as the 1950s would be nothing less than astonishing. But it does exist.

The map was drawn by Piri Reis in 1513. It shows detailed and pointedly accurate outlines of Eastern North and South America, and Western Africa, an absolutely amazing accomplishment in that era, but that is not the real show stopper about this map. It also shows a completely accurate detailed outline of the Northern Antarctic Coast as it exists without the ice cap. This is not just amazing, it is impossible by any technique we know of to have existed in the known technology of civilization until our present abilities. There are two issues that even further complicate this mystery.

The first complication is that Antarctica had not been discovered yet in 1513. The fact that Piri Reis had stated himself that he had used other maps from other resources available to sailors in his era, some dating back to the days of Alexander the Great, does nothing but compound the mystery. That only means that this information was compiled at an even earlier date. Where could this information have come from? While completely baffling, it is only the “tip of the iceberg” so to speak.

The outline of Antarctica on this map shows the coastline as it is under the one mile thick snow cap of the region — with an accuracy we can verify now by using only recently developed technology via aerial surveying. It has been calculated that the last time the Antarctic coast was clear of this ice cap was 6,000 years ago at the most recent, with a possible inaccuracy of this figure pushing the date back to possibly as long as 13,000 years ago. At present, we have no knowledge of any civilization in existence during those dates.

In 1953 the Hydrographic Bureau of the U.S. Navy acquired this map and actually used it to correct errors in their own present day maps. Apparently whoever drew these charts had the knowledge of the fact that the world is round, the circumference, within 50 miles, and an extremely advanced knowledge of spherical trigonometry.

The Piri Reis is only one of several maps drawn during the middle ages by sailors using mapping from ancient sources completely unknown to us in present times. While we can now map the world with the same accuracy as these ancients were able to do, it still remains for us to find out who these people were and when they lived.

If you would like to know more about the Piri Reis and other impossible yet existent maps, treat yourself to a visit to: http://www.world-mysteries.com/sar_1.htm

Did you know that you can download GPS maps without paying a single dime?

When you purchase a GPS unit as a navigation aid, your unit would come pre-loaded with a free GPS map. The thing about the pre-loaded map is that they’re mostly incomplete in details which could be useful to you on your trip. That’s why you’ll prefer to find out extra maps and there are a lot of places you will be able to go to online which would offer you a free-of-cost GPS map simply by clicking on a simple download link.

When you perform a Google search for “free GPS map”, you will be able to find a lot of places online that let you download a free-of-cost GPS map. Actually, not just one you can download a lot of GPS maps. You will be able to choose and pick out which maps you would like to download and then all you have got to do is upload them from your computer to your GPS receiver. Typically, the GPS unit will be accompanied by the electric cord required to do this and it’s really rather simple.

When you’re going to a particular address, you’ll have to have an elaborated map of that location so that you are able to receive exact and dependable directions to navigate your trip with minimal problems. Finding a free-of-cost GPS map of this location could be done easily by simply performing a web search and then you download the map straightaway to your hard drive.

Pre-loaded maps which accompany your GPS unit – apart from usually deficient in details – typically don’t include several points of interest that could make your journey simpler. If you’re on a long journey and find that you have to stop somewhere for the night, having the points of interest which include hotels in the region could be a huge benefit and save you a lot of time driving around searching for a place to stay!

Although there are a lot of software programs which you will be able to purchase to load GPS maps into your unit, why do that when you will be able to obtain a free-of-cost GPS map straight from the net? You can choose and pick out which maps you require and it’s all free of charge. What could be better than that?

Make sure you know what GPS systems are and how it can benefit you by visiting this popular website about GPS http://www.gpsmapsfree.info where you can also download free GPS maps.

When it comes to memorizing, one of the hardest items to memorize are maps simply because it involves memorizing both words and images. Indeed, there are many people who want to know how to memorize a map easily. The problem with memorizing maps is that you must be able to capture an accurate mental picture of it or else you will not be able to locate the place that you are looking for and you will most likely get lost. There are proven methods though that can help you memorize maps. And if you will simply follow these methods then you can easily place a mental picture of any map in your head and recall it at will.

One of the first things that you should do when memorizing a map is to break it down into small parts. As the saying goes, the only way to eat an elephant is to eat it piece by piece and that is also the best way to remember the details of a visual representation of a city or a town. The next step is try to connect the names of the streets with a certain landmark of the place. The reason why it is hard to remember street names is because they lack relevance. If you assign a landmark to a street, then that street will instantly gain relevance. Lastly, create a mental picture of street names. Pictures are much easier to remember than mere words.

Now that you now know how to memorize a map, you can now venture into any place without the fear of getting lost.

Finding maps online makes a lot of sense. You will have the latest information updated in real-time for a new street in your neighborhood or up-to-the-minute traffic reports to help you plan your commute. Step-by-step driving directions make any trip a breeze. Yet which online map site reigns supreme: Google, Yahoo or MapQuest?

First let’s look at simple directions. That is why most of us find driving directions online after all, is it not? If you are worried about road hazards, construction zones and thick traffic, then Yahoo Maps is good for that function. MapQuest lets you check boxes to avoid highways and tolls, choose the shortest distance or take the route with the shortest time. The user-friendly, simple nature of this site is also a good perk for someone who wants their directions right away.

They also have recently added the drag-and-drop function that Yahoo has had, which helps you navigate around traffic obstructions. If you are walking or jogging, then Ask is the only site that lets you plot your pedestrian course. Google Maps can zoom in for close topographical views of any continent. To sum up, Yahoo is the best site when traffic or construction sites are a concern, while MapQuest provides quick point-A-to-point-B directions.

So what about maps of sightseeing? MapQuest does not offer satellite images currently, although if you have the addresses, you can plot out multiple points on your sightseeing tour to discover an efficient route. Google can show you extremely close-up views all around the world from Nairobi and Lima to Baghdad and Tokyo.

Yahoo also takes you right to the heart of the world’s most far-flung continents using a number of sources for its images, although Google and Ask have more display pixels. Conclusively, Google Maps probably has the most comprehensive database of real-world images and the fastest response time for your sightseeing needs. In fact, there are entire websites dedicated to “sightseeing without leaving your living room via Google satellite maps.”

Another site not detailed here, but worth looking at, is the newer Microsoft Windows Live Local. You can stick a pushpin on favorite locations, record notes and upload pictures to your sites to save or share with friends, which is sort of like the Google map creator function. You can also view traffic reports and get the clearest route, explore collections of sightseeing landmarks and tour 3-D cities.

This new player seems to perceptibly take the best of the other sites and do it better. As you browse, you will notice that all the sites have similar interfaces (except for that rebel, MapQuest) but the subtle differences are what make people so adamant about their favorite mapping engines.

A new Google Earth map highlights the devastating impact a 4C rise in temperature would have on different parts of the world.

The interactive tool, which was released by the UK’s coalition government, aims to stimulate the debate on carbon emissions and climate change.

It comes after recent warnings that – based on current international carbon pledges – the earth’s temperature is set to rise by an average of nearly 4C, which could lead to sea level rises, forest fires and drought.

The online map shows how temperature rises differ drastically around the world. The poles glow red, with a potential rise of up to 10C, while northern Europe escapes with light orange 2-3C rises. Other hot spots including the Amazon rainforest stand out.

Climate change minister Greg Barker said: “It does not make pleasant viewing and underlines the threat to human and national security if we don’t act now.”

Deforestation is one of the main causes of climate change. In just 24 hours, logging will release as much carbon into the atmosphere as 8 million people flying from London to New York.

The good news is that steps to tackle deforestation are starting to make a difference. A recent report reveals global production of illegal timber has dropped by a 22 per cent since 2002 while Brazil, Cameroon and Indonesia, have seen levels fall by a huge 50 to 75 per cent.

It has been calculated that since 2002, 17m hectares of forest have been saved from deforestation, preventing the release of up 1.2bn tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.

However, there is still a long way to go before countries achieve sustainable management of their tropical forests.

Very popular antique maps are fetching very high prices at the auction block, because of this many forgeries have appeared as well as numerous copies of these maps. Map reproductions are not worth anything regardless of what the seller tells you. We will give you a few tips to distinguish a fake antique map from a real antique map.

First let us talk about copies, forgeries and reproductions of antique maps. Cartographers have copied each others’ maps for centuries and have improved on them as well. These old maps can be valuable since they were done when the information on them was valid and useful. They are genuine historical documents.

However, recent copies of old maps that depict geographical information from centuries past are made with the intent of offering decoration and sometimes historical insight to their buyers. The value of these map reproductions is often marketed to unknowing customers by claiming that the copy is of a rare map or that is was made using some fancy printing technique. The truth is that a copy of a rare map is not rare, it is the original map that is rare. The copy is worthless and the same goes for the fancy printing.

Here are a few ways for you to spot a fake old map:

1. Color maps were hand-colored before the 1850s. With a magnifying glass take a close look at the color. If you see a matrix of small and even overlapping dots then you have a map made after the 1900s. Your map may say it is from the 1600s for example, but the presence of these dots means that it was not made until after the 1900s. It’s a copy.

2. Old maps were mostly engraved on metal plates in reverse so that they could be printed. When printing the pressure from the press and its engraved plate into the paper leaves a “plate mark” or indentation around the map. If you have a plate mark on your map be sure to look all the way around to see if anything was printed beyond the plate mark. If there is printed material spilling beyond the plate mark, you have a fake.

3. Hold the map up to the light to look at the paper. Most maps made before the 1820s were made on hand-made paper. This paper was made by artisans who used a wire mesh to hold up the paper pulp. This wire mesh leaves a visible grid called “chain links” that are visible against a strong light source. Paper makers often had a watermark to identify themselves that is sometimes visible on bigger maps. If you don’t have chain links on a map dated from the 1820s or earlier, then you have a map reproduction.

4. The majority of antique maps were taken out of old atlases, because of this there is often a fold in the middle of a map. This fold is where the map was bound in the book. Also atlas maps are worn from use at the corners, especially the right hand top or bottom corners. This is where most people would flip the pages. If your map doesn’t have a center fold or looks too new, then it probably is.

If you are a language teacher, you probably already use mind maps to help your students learn vocabulary. These mind maps are sometimes referred to as “vocabulary networks” or “word maps”. One popular use of such mind maps is organising vocabulary groups, e.g. your central theme is “food” and your sub-themes are “meat”, “fruit”, “vegetables” etc. Another way might be to associate the various nouns, adjectives and verbs with your central theme, e.g. television, programme, film, switch on, watch, interesting, boring…

But have you considered using mind maps for teaching grammar points? Anyone with a TEFL qualification will be familiar with using concept questions to help students understand a tricky element of grammar in English. For example, when giving advice, an English speaker invariably uses the modal verbs should or ought to. There are likely no equivalent verbs in your students’ language, so you would ask concept questions to check that they have understood:

you should see a doctor

• Is it an obligation to see a doctor? – no
• Is it a good idea to see a doctor? – yes

By answering these two questions, the learner has a good notion of when to use should. But putting these questions into a mind map will help your learner to both visualise the concepts and retain them for future use. In my classes, I write up two questions side by side and circle them. The questions are, “Is it necessary?” and “Is it allowed?” I then start to make my mind map by writing the only two possible answers, yes or no? I then try to elicit the modal verbs, must, mustn’t, have to, don’t have to, can, can’t, according to the answer, and write them in the appropriate place on the mind map.

Perhaps my explanations here aren’t really clear. That’s exactly why mind-mapping is a better way to help your students visualise the concepts. You can try to explain until you’re blue in the face, but a simple diagram does the trick quickly and effectively. You can see an example of a mind map that I created on my site – really, a picture does paint a thousand words!

Think about what points of grammar you are having trouble teaching and start developing concept questions that you can put into a mind map. For my French students, the present perfect causes no end of confusion, because they use the same construction to talk about completed past actions – yesterday, I have been to the cinema. What concept questions do you think could help them see the difference between “I went” and “I’ve been”? It’s up to you to use your imagination!