CS Odessa, the developers of ConceptDraw MINDMAP, recently announced a new free add-on from its ConceptDraw Solution Park that enables users of the mind mapping program to conduct remote presentations via Skype. All parties viewing or giving presentations must have both ConceptDraw MINDMAP 7 and Skype to use this solution.
To conduct a Skype call from within ConceptDraw MINDMAP, you simply click on a new Skype toolbar icon that gets added when this add-on is installed. The application converts your mind map to a form that is compatible with Skype’s protocols, manages the process of connecting with your meeting participants, and transmits your map to them. It enables you to see the connection status of each participant via a small window that appears in the top left corner of your map’s workspace. When everyone is connected, you can begin your presentation.
The presentation flows normally, using ConceptDraw MINDMAP’s built-in presentation mode. When the Skype conference ends, each participant has a copy of the mind map on their computer, making it easier to share information with participants.
CS Odessa says it has an aggressive roadmap planned to more deeply integrate Skype into ConceptDraw MINDMAP, which will more fully exploit its powerful business and collaboration capabilities. I hope one enhancement will be the ability to present and distribute read-only versions of mind maps with participants who don’t have copies of ConceptDraw MINDMAP on their computers. In my opinion, that is a significant limitation to the usefulness of this tool, especially considering that many companies have not widely deployed mind mapping software. If you are presenting to a group of people who don’t have ConceptDraw MINDMAP, you can always connect with a group on Skype, then share your screen and present your mind map in that way.
The ConceptDraw Remote Presentation for Skype solution is a free add-on that is available for download from the ConceptDraw Solution Park on the developer’s website. For more details, including several videos that demonstrate how this application works with ConceptDraw MINDMAP, please click here.
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