Boy, do I love this!
The Visual Thesaurus has added a whole new dimension to the age-old tool. It adds connectivity. When you enter in a word, it displays the word…and shows you how it connects to synonyms. When you click on one of the synonyms, it opens up a whole new "word web" with related words.
This is what I see when I enter the word "count."
This is what happens when I click on the word enumerate, from the count page.
You really have to experience it 3-D to understand how powerful a tool this could be for you.
You can take it for a test drive, but if you fall in love with it like I did, you’ll have to shell out some cash.
You won’t care.
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I’ve seen this before, but it looks like they’ve taken it to a whole ‘nother level. I just might shell out the bucks for this one so I can look smart/shrewd/astute or even cagey.
Hi Drew; I agree, this is a beauty. When I saw this, I wondered what other use there would be for this type of application. In the past week or so I came across a site called Geni, which uses a very similar idea to grow your family tree. It is incredible how much more enticing and powerful something becomes when you make it visual and easy.
David
I came across your blog through purplewren. Your blog had loads of interesting articles. It is indeed a wonderful find.I will be back to visit, soon!
Sham
I have been a fan of Visual Thesaurus for ages … I love the way that it visualises the connection between words … and does so with a visual sense of elasticity — much like the way that ideas spring forth from nothing.
Roberta,
I know, I know — I spent the money and I have never regretted it.
It’s not only cool to look at — it really does help you think more holistically.
A must have in my tool belt!
Drew
David,
As a writer, I am often enraptured by words…but with this tool the flow of the words is what fascinates me.
Following the connections takes me places that my mind wouldn’t have wandered, I don’t think.
I’ll have to check out Geni. I have an uncle who is tracing our family tree back to the original tree I think!
Drew
Sham,
Welcome! I hope you’ll come back often and jump into the conversations as a general rule.
Watch for me over at your blog…I’m enjoying it!
Drew
Gavin,
“A visual sense of elasticity.” You’ve got me nodding my head here. What I love about the tool is that each path takes me to a different place…but they all circle back around.
Drew
Drew — I completely love VT. It’s part tool, part inspiration.
Ann,
Your description is very apt — I have found that VT has sharpened my saw a little.
It helps me think differently which allows me to write with a new twist and freshness.
I guess we old dogs can learn a new trick or two. Thank goodness!
Drew