Useful software
- Mindmapping software
- Freemind
- Mindmanager
- Inspiration
- VUE – Visual Understanding Environment
- MindView 3BE
- View Your Mind
- MindFull V2
- Poster creation software
- Poster Genius
- Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
- Microsoft Office Publisher 2007
- Adobe Creative Suite CS4
- QuarkXPress
- Color Schemer Online
- Reference management software
- Endnote
- Reference manager
- ProCite
- Sente
- Mendeley
- Writing aids
- WordQ
- Penfriend
- Audio Notetaker
- Dragon naturally speaking
- PDF annotator
- Time management - workflow
- Workrave
- Gantt Project
- VARCHART X Gantt
| Mindmapping software | |||
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FreemindPopular and easy to use. |
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MindmanagerOne of the first on the scene. Comes in a variety of degrees of complexity. Make sure that the version you get can export text to the clipboard. |
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InspirationMany universities have site licences for this mindmapping tool. |
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VUE – Visual Understanding EnvironmentLooks good, and participants have recommended it. |
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MindView 3BENot cheap, but it is a flexible product creating mind maps, concept maps, gantt charges, outlines and timelines. Has Windows and Mac versions. |
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View Your MindIt’s free, so it’s worth giving a go. |
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MindFull V2This creates concept maps – a variant on the theme of maps that link thoughts and ideas. It is designed for use with a wide range of ages, so some of the visuals look ‘young’, but if you get over that, it can be useful. |
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| Poster creation software | |||
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Poster GeniusNew to the field this is a great way of creating neat posters. It gives lots of tips and takes away much of the hassle. Not sure whether it will boost or cramp imagination, but the free trial is worth trying out. |
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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007Not the most flexible of packages, but one that is often sat there on your machine, and does most things you will ever need to do. |
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Microsoft Office Publisher 2007A potential option, but to be honest, you are better sticking with PowerPoint if you are using Microsoft’s applications. |
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Adobe Creative Suite CS4Adobe provide arguably the most versatile sets of software solutions – and they don’t come cheap. There are Mac and Windows versions. |
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QuarkXPressThis is a top of the range design and publishing package that sits at the centre of much commercial publishing. It will do all you could ever want, but you could spend most of the year getting it under control |
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Color Schemer OnlineThis site lets you enter a colour code and then shows use a set of matching colours. |
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EndnoteBoth Endnote and Reference Manager are owned by the same company. My hunch is that Endnote will survive into the future, while I anticipate that they will phase out Reference Manager – they seem to be developing more tools for Endnote. Have a look at EndNoteWeb – but make sure you have a physical copy of a backup in your possession. I would not want to risk losing all my data if they decide to turn the service off one day. |
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Reference managerGood and reliable, but possibly not the software of the future. |
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ProCiteMore complex to use, but people who like working hard with references say it is powerful. |
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SenteWould love to hear from anyone who has used this software… |
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MendeleyThis lets you keep a copy of your database on your local machine as well as holding a synchronised copy on a central server. It’s got some great features and is definitely an exciting new entrant to the scene. |
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WordQWordQ word prediction and text-to-speech software and SpeakQ speech recognition software makes writing easier for people who don’t find writing English easy. When you start typing a word it generates a list of possible alternative to choose from, and then read the word out so that you can be sure you have chosen the right one. It re-reads each sentence once you hit the full-stop, so you can be sure that it sounds right. |
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PenfriendPenfriend is very similar to WordQ. One option, however, extends the idea a bit futher. Penfriend portable puts the software on a USB stick so that you can plug it in at any computer you use and take advantage of its predictive word finding and text reading. |
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Audio NotetakerA great way to record lectures and talks, and create spoken drafts of your own work. FREE 30-day TRIAL available. As you record speech a bar appears on the screen. With each pause a new bar starts. Click on a bar to play that bit back. Delete bars you don't want. Rearrange those you do. |
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Dragon naturally speakingEarly versions of speech-to-text software were expensive and hopeless (unless you slaved away with them for hours). The latest offering from Nuance is still relatively expensive, and needs to run on a fast processor, but it is getting quite good. Certainly worth considering if you are hopeless on a keyboard! |
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PDF annotatorPDF Annotator lets the user open any PDF file and add annotations, using the Tablet PC pen, directly on the PDF file's pages. The annotated documents can then be saved directly back to PDF format. In this way, anyone can read or print the annotated PDF documents. Annotated documents can also be easily attached to emails. |
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WorkraveWorkrave is a program that assists in the recovery and prevention of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The program frequently alerts you to take micro-pauses, rest breaks and restricts you to your daily limit. |
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Gantt ProjectA simple-to-use, free downloadable gantt chart creating programme – sweet! |
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VARCHART X GanttVersatile and has a free trial download option. |
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Before buying or downloading any software listed on this website, please ensure that it is compatible with your computer and that the licence is applicable to your circumstances.