Imagine if —

You could build custom visuals templates like this to use within a networked database...

Overlaying page links, anchored to visual space on the canvas.

Fields could be created, and annotated.

Links, backlinks, and excel-like functions 💭
Not everything should be constrained to an *outliner* format.

Visual space affects our thinking in ways that linear text cannot.

I want text, shape, symbol —

With a custom canvas to create new layouts and representations.

Space conveys relationship. Let’s use it.
But let’s not stop at agendas!

There is a whole world of templates that could be put to use.

I could describe with flowcharts and diagrams concepts that would feel too verbose with text alone.
I’m realizing a pattern that would be cool in search —

“from:brandontoner imagine”

— a collection of futures I’ve been excited about.

— now imagine the future, when they’ve been realized. How fun to look back on.

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More from @brandontoner

13 Dec
4000 tweets — holy crap.
No wonder my Twitter Advanced Search results are getting interesting.
Gonna be able to just upload my tweet history onto a floppy disk in 20 years and boom — living forever unlocked.
Read 4 tweets
12 Dec
PART 3: Visual Roaming

Ok now one of the examples from today that prompted this exploration:

While playing in a curling playoff, I thought of building a performance tool encompassing all of mine, and my team-mates’ (@TodddMercer) knowledge 🥌🥌🥌

Part 1 here ↓
There are LOTS of components to the game.

Delivery technique
Shot-calling strategy (conditional logic, with lots of variables)
Communication
Environmental factors (degree of speed and curl on different ice paths)
Practice techniques & tools.

Etcccc
Now I could pick apart ANY of these. And really, I’d want to do that for ALL of them (and the aspects I didn’t think of), slowly, but steadily creating a more comprehensive model of the game over time.

This would be SUPER useful, and super fun.

I’ll go with strategy.
Read 9 tweets
12 Dec
Ok now I’m going to describe a process I want to be able to engage with. That would scratch the itch I put some words to over here

What I want...
First I need to *capture* the pieces in my head. These come in ALL forms. Whatever it is, I need to be able to toss it onto a canvas.

Partly outliner here. Braindump.
Roam does part of this perfectly so I need that. Text based ideas — out of my head, into lists.
But then, DIFFERENT lists form, and I want to be able to move those around — like little suboutliner views moved around like sticky notes stuck to a wall.

Able to be moved, reoriented, in a visual way in order to start to see new relationships.
Read 7 tweets
12 Dec
I need a *spatial* and *visual* tool for thought, with back-linking.

There is a particular itch I’m trying to scratch for thinking through ideas and processes — and I can’t quite scratch it with an outliner.

So I’m just gonna talk out loud for a while to find the words...
When I have ideas — they are disjointed.

Partial, incomplete, out of order, disconnected.

Bits of relevance that are *solid* and *usable* thought — that just hasn’t yet found context.
Often I can *see* the map. (Or feel it?)

I *know* I can assemble the picture if only I could adequately organize the pieces.

Roam was the first thing that gave me a feeling of power. A feeling that I could reign in and sort these disjointed thoughts into some sort of whole.
Read 12 tweets
12 Dec
Seeing things unfold is amazing.
Seeing friends succeed.

It’s inspiring. It’s motivating.

It feels something like: “If they can do it — so can I”

And that’s a powerful idea. That’s what a strong community offers.

Belief.
Jamie published a book this week. That’s incredible.

*snap-purchased*

Why? Because good ideas resonate even more strongly when they are packaged with belief.
The idea hit me this week. While listening to a podcast episode with @heydannymiranda and @dickiebush ...

Ideas hit different when you know the author on a personal level.

There’s a closeness. A connection.

That’s powerful.
Read 5 tweets
10 Dec
Thinking out loud on Twitter feels like building a bridge as you walk.

As I think, comments, recommendations, etc continuously present possible next steps for exploration.

No matter where I turn, someone has thought deeply about whatever it is that’s on my mind.
It’s like being constantly surrounded by exactly the experts you need.

The knowledge exists. On whatever it is you’re curious about.

The journey is more fun, when people help to illuminate the way.
Kinda feel like pushing this idea as far as I can.

Continuously doubling down on the power of community. The power of public thought. The power of externalized thinking.

What could we accomplish, if we all guided each other along the way?
Read 8 tweets

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