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Xmind is a relatively new projectmanager. It's genius is, that it easily takes you all the way from brainstorm through structuring the project so that you transparently moves from brainstorm to a managed project.

However, it occurs to me that KDE would have some strong points for an application like Xmind, since it would be possible to pull in AI into the brainstorming part - by letting the program search the internet and the harddisk for good ideas on the subject being brainstormed. This way the program could act as a sort of wizard in the brainstorming process, thus at times aiding the team.

Of course the help should be non-intrusive on the users. Rather, the program would recognise words and patterns in the "brainstorm" and offer links to ressources that could help getting extra information on the project, either during the brainstorm or following it. Links about what already exists in the area, unimplemented ideas out there, patent issues and so forth.

I am not experienced enough in KDE 4 to say if such an idea is feasible, but it seems to me that KDE would be the only project that could pull such an idea off. I believe it would leave the competition behind, if feasible.

Read about XMIND here: http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Office/G ... 3224.shtml
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Edit: The basic idea is to have a document that can structure a development proces. For simplicity I will call the application "ProjeKt" (I know, the name sucks, but it was the first name that came to my mind). Now assume the headings of a brainstorm are presented to a meeting using ProjeKt (the presentation should propably have a mindmap-like appearance). At the brainstorm people start tossing up ideas for the projekt - they are entered into the mindmap either as new entries or within the already existing entries, as needed.

Lots of ideas are tossed around at the meeting, but ProjeKt has some semantics knowledge as well as basic AI, so it understands some of the words and sentences, and starts looking up relevant information in files and on the internet. The informations are filtered, this way the developers immediately have access to information about the project, when the meeting is finished (or even during). So ProjeKt is not only where ideas are stored, by itself it also searches the organisation and the internet for relevant information as the meeting goes on - ProjeKt in a way acts as a skilled secretary, always a step ahead and always ready with relevant information and background. When someone at the meeting says: "But didn't we already try this when ..." chances are that ProjeKt has already found information about that former project and created a link to the mindmap, so it can be easily verified what the relevance of that project 2 years ago really is.

Obviously, ProjeKt does not only work with mindmaps. After the brainstorm meeting a decision is made to investigate 2 of the ideas further - so these two ideas are moved to a more structured document, where it is noted what should be investigated. Time-schedules for the investigation is moved to the calendar, and the document is shared between those investigating the ideas further (ProjeKt of course knows who they are, their email-address and so on, since it collaborates with the other KDE programs). A time schedule is set up (automatically - just fill in), and all the relevant documents are stored according to the company's file structure. Since it is a new project, easy entries for future meetings about the project are made ready in the calendar program.

So ProjeKt is not only a project planner, it actually aids in the process from brainstorm, to finding relevant documents ind information over structuring the project, to keeping track of time scedules and developments in the project, making sure information is always stored at the right places. This of course makes use of Artificial Intelligence end semantic understanding, which is the reason I believe KDE would be the only organisation that could currently make this happen.

The only problem is - I am not sure if is possible to do even with KDE, but it seems to me it should be possible....

Could you please explain a bit more about how such an application would work? The readers shouldn't have to click on a link in order to understand the idea.

Hans wrote:Could you please explain a bit more about how such an application would work? The readers shouldn't have to click on a link in order to understand the idea.

Of course - I have added some ideas (not how Xmind works, but som many new possibilities seem possible with the semantic desktop, so I changed the ideas somewhat).

I'm thinking that your ideas would be best if integrated in one of the already existing project planners/note takers/mind mappers. They already have the basics needed, they "only" have to be extended with semantic knowledge and the AI part.

Now, I don't know what the authors of the specific programs have in mind for future development but three programs that springs to mind are Kplato, basket, and semantik.

Kryten2X4B wrote:I'm thinking that your ideas would be best if integrated in one of the already existing project planners/note takers/mind mappers. They already have the basics needed, they "only" have to be extended with semantic knowledge and the AI part.

Now, I don't know what the authors of the specific programs have in mind for future development but three programs that springs to mind are Kplato, basket, and semantik.

I think I will try to look into those projects, and see if the ideas would fit into them. Thank you for your comment.

stigl, if you have found out whether or not you can restructure your ideas around one of those projects can you please add a new brainstorm idea? If not and you a sure this requires a new application reply with your justification.

After some searching I believe, that it would take some merging of i.e. kplato and basket to have a suitable foundation for my idea. Perhaps the idea is premature at the moment?

It does sound a bit far-fetched but I will still approve it. With proper development, and a good deal of proposed ideas and mockups it could become a reality.