Customer Reviews
Incredibly Inspirational 
2006-05-18
The problem I've always found with software that tries to mimic or enable such organic processes as brainstorming is that they generally lose something in translation. Part of what makes these processes work is their speed and their element of "flow"--the fact that you can just keep going without any significant pauses or stopping to analytically think about things. Most software slows this process down just enough--or introduces enough mental stumbling blocks--that something gets lost. Surprisingly, I found just the opposite to be true with Inspiration 8. Not only does it not lose anything, but if anything I found it easier to brainstorm and do concept mapping with this software than on paper.
Inspiration is primarily pitched at an educational level, where it can be used by teachers to teach classes, or by students to organize projects. However, I believe it has a far wider application than that. I now use it to brainstorm and organize my reviews and articles--all of them. It could be used to brainstorm or storyboard a roleplaying game adventure. A writer could use it for any step of the inspiration or organization process, for novels, nonfiction, etc. I even used it to create my plan of attack when turning my review of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cleaning" into a plan to clean my home.
While you can use this program to simply plan out your own projects, you can also incorporate video and sound if you want to use it to create more interactive or presentational works. Many curriculum templates are included to give you an idea of how you could use this tool in an educational setting. For instance, there's a diagram to help students do a benefit/risk analysis of the use of radioactive isotopes. The ability to export to Word makes this easy to integrate with other activities, and it can even include live hyperlinks. If you want to include a limited library of icons and such with your template to help students focus on certain things, you can create your own libraries.
The ability to convert from diagram to outline and vice versa is impressive and incredibly helpful. I can't express how useful this has been to me as a writer. The fact that the auto-arrange feature has an array of tree/web arrangements is fantastic.
The wide range of icons and symbols available for use is truly astounding. While you can stick to simple symbols if you like (default is an oval, and there are the usual flowchart symbols such as triangles and squares, as well as stars and talk-bubbles), you can also choose from a dazzling array of clip-art and photo images. You can search this database of icons by keyword, and I found that it was surprisingly good at turning up images that fitted what I wanted. This can jazz up your diagrams, making them more fun to create or use.
All in all, Inspiration 8 has to be, hands-down, the most impressive piece of software I have ever used. The flexibility, wide array of features, lack of noticeable bugs, intuitive interface, and vast possibilities it contains make me feel like a kid in a candy shop when I open it up.
No solo para el salón de clase 2008-06-28
Existen otras herramientas en las que los diagramas de flujo ayudan a organizar las actividades en un proyecto de investigación, pero ninguna iguala a Inspiration en cuanto a la capacidad de plasmar conceptos y actividades en forma gráfica. Para mis asistentes de Investigación, los mapas mentales construidos en este magnífico software ilustran con rigor científico la ruta de un proyecto, con sus pposibles alternativas y les permiten a partir de ahí desarrollar nuevas ideas.
Solid, but I've still yet to find one program that offers what I'm looking for 
2008-01-06
First of all, let me just say that this is solid software. It is available on both Windows and Mac. I will say that I've only used the 30 day trial version, but to the best of my knowledge, it's not in the best interest of Inspiration to offer a trial program that is only a fraction of what the whole product is, seeing that it is a 30 day trial. Please correct me on this one though.
The full version of the software is at an affordable price, compared to similar software, such as SmartDraw, MindManager, and Microsoft OneNote.
Inspiration allows for the user to present information visually. As far as seamless features are concerned, it has room for improvement, but I like the features such as the "Create" button which is on the Main toolbar. This feature allows one to select a part of a diagram such as a circle, box, rounded circle, cloud, or other shapes, and then proceed to add another attached shape to show relationships, and either to the right, left, below, above, or any four diagonal positions, connected to the original shape. Hope that makes sense.
However, as far a seamless aspects of it are concerned, I've had a bit of trouble. When trying to edit text in a text box that is stretched out a considerable amount horizontally and is also large (50 or more), it is a bit tricky to do so. This is because when one wants to edit only a certain amount of text in a text box, they must double click on it, which in turn zooms in, greatly into the text. You may understand how this would create problems when a text box is spread out horizontally. I tried playing around with it, and figured out a way to edit a certain amount of text in a text box, but it is not very seamless. It includes selecting all of the text in a text box via CTRL+A and then pressing and holding SHIFT and then clicking at the conclusion of the text I want to edit.
As far as other features are concerned, incorporating a pretty decent dictionary into the program is a plus in my book. You can also insert a word that you look up, into a text box or into a shape (incorporated into a diagram) It includes a dictation, albeit it sounds a bit too much like Mr. Roboto (if he were real), I give the creators of Inspiration credit for adding such a feature.
The "Rapid Fire" feature, from using it so far, seems like neither "rapid" or "fire". I've yet to really figure out how to use it. It is meant to be a brainstorming feature, but seems to fall short. I will give it some more usage and update this review if I come to find out how to use it effectively.
Something else I like is the option to add "Notes", which are boxes that are distinguishable from the shapes of the diagram and are easily perceived as just that--notes, by a box that allows for a colored outline and colored fill inside the box (for "fill" think "inside of a shape", in computing terms). In addition to this, it seems to allow for a text document within a document, as the "Notes" box allow for one to scroll up or down--I'm just not sure how I would use the scrolling option, and I believe other reviewers have said the same thing in regards to different features of this product. Can I transfer a file to PowerPoint or MS Word, and still have the file retain all of the characteristics and affordances of this software? I haven't been able to yet, and speaking of transferring.
I need to, and users or potential buyers of this program should familiarize their self with different files and their properties. There are a lot of files one can choose from to convert a file made in Inspiration when transferring to a different program. (Plain Text, Encoded Text, Rich Text Format, HTLM Document, various word document files and including 2007, Single File Web Page, and a few others). I believe all have benefits and trade offs.
One more feature I like is the ability to insert hyperlinks into a file. One can include a web page, document, a file, such as a picture or sound, or another inspiration document. One cool way to incorporate this, and I'd like to do this for classes I'm taking this semester, is to include a hyperlink to part of a lecture I've recorded and edite and shortened, and then insert it as a hyperlink into a file in a program such as Inspiration.
Inspiration also allows for a variety of pictures, and they seem to be rather updated. The main trade off is that the photos aren't that high of resolution, but that is a trade off one makes when variety is offered in form of selection of pictures is concerned as well as lesser price. I say this, because when increasing the size of the pictures, they become distorted. The art, on the other hand, which can be inserted just like a picture, is lower picture quality, but can be increased in size, and still retain its resolution, but not for all of them. Also, one more major drawback is that the pictures and art have no label as to indicate what they are exactly, such as in Microsoft programs.
In conclusion, I've yet to find one program that seeks to allow the user to create and re-visit information visually for a modest price and affordable to a student. I believe Inspiration is more so geared to K-12 teachers, but is of value to those not in that group. I would like to see Inspiration improve some of the aspects I mentioned, especially the ones that would not take much investment to do so, such as allowing for easier use of editing large text that is spread horizontally, adding margins onto the working space, and allowing the user to know what it is they are looking at as far as pictures/art are concerned.
Excellent for children with learning disabilities 2007-11-05
My 15 year old daughter has been using this software for 3 years now. She has a very difficult time with writing assignments, and this software has really made a difference. She uses this software for all of her written assignments. The fact that Inspirations takes you from idea/concept mapping, to an outline, then on to your final draft is amazing. This software really works for children with learning disabilities!
Great for All Kinds of Things 2007-09-10
I have used Inspiration software for years as a teacher, Educational Technologist, mother, and now as an educational consultant. While I always enjoy new bells and whistles on any new software, I am so glad that the fundamental elements of this software have been enhanced to make it more user-friendly. Even if you are not technologically inclined, this software can be used as soon as you open it up. My kids (4 and 2 years old) love making relational charts. We made an animals one after we came home from the zoo. It is great for teaching relationships as well as organizational thinking.
Inspiration 8 2007-01-18
This product is amazing. I recommend this product to any person who wants to stay organized. Me, being a teacher, use it in the classroom for taking notes all the time. It's a great way to get your kids to have fun and learn by taking notes all at the same time!
