If you have wondered if there was an easier way to navigate or present a web site or
even the files on your own PC, then TheBrain should hold some interest for you.
TheBrain is a java-based system which enables you to graphically depict the file
structure on a web site or on a local hard drive. It does so by transforming your existing
files into an animated picture of a universe. Your main site or local drive forms the
center of this universe, and your folders or subdirectories form the planets.
Whenever you click on these planets, they explode into another universe, and you can
progressively drill down until you find what you are looking for in this highly-relational
graphical universe. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, look at this (or click for
an example on their web site):
By clicking on the center logo for TheBrain, planets pop out and connections are shown
by faint blue lines. When you click on one of these planets -- say Products -- then it
becomes the center of the universe and new related planets pop up around it.
The software comes in multiple flavors for personal PC use, web site use, intranet use,
and a new WebBrain which uses DMOZ as its search engine.
From an end-user perspective, TheBrain is quite refreshing. From an installation,
set-up and maintenance perspective, this may be one of those tools you really need to put
some time into to make it pay-off. When the tool is running, it is fairly intuitive -- you
click and drill down, click and drill down. Installing it on a PC, however, and using it
on a daily basis -- well, perhaps I'm just too stodgy in my old ways. Windows File Find
works fine with me, and I'm not beyond hunting for what I need with Windows Explorer.
What TheBrain brings to the table is the ability to create links between files, thereby
allowing you to author or create a universe where others can follow your path as you want
them to. It's a little metaphysical, and you would be best to experience it for yourself.
Click here to visit
TheBrain now.
TheBrain
