SpatialNote User Guide
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The document outlines the functionalities and features of the Spatialnote application, including how to create, manage, and navigate a 3D note-taking structure based around a main cube. It discusses the use of notes, child cubes, color-coding, and spatial metaphors to facilitate effective knowledge organization and retrieval. Additionally, it highlights tips for creating knowledge structures and mnemonic techniques that leverage human cognitive abilities for enhanced learning and memory.
SpatialNote User Guide
- 2. Table of contents Structure 3 Notes 4 Background Image 5 Color-coding 6 Navigation 7 Interface 8 Structure Management 10 Why SpatialNote 11 Tips on creating spatial metaphors 12 Tips on creating knowledge structures 13
- 3. StructureThe Main Cube The whole structure of your note is based around the main cube.The status of the main cube cannot be assigned to another cube. The title of your document is also the title of your main cube. Cube face Each cube consists of six faces. Cube faces are the canvases to which you can attach the notes. The notes on the faces are displayed in both outside and inside views.The side faces are marked by direction they are facing (N for North, S for South, E for East andW for West).Top and Bottom faces are not marked, as the structure rotation is limited on this axis and can’t be rotated upside down. Note Note is a piece of information that can be represented by text and image (video is coming up in later version of SpatialNote). Notes are placed on cube faces. Parent cube / child cube Each cube can have up to six child cubes, one for each face. Child cubes are smaller than the parent cubes. Each child cube can also be a parent cube for six other cubes.
- 4. Notes Note title Note title is the first text line of the note text. It is also the title of a cube that is expanded from the note. Expand note The main note of each face can be expanded, which creates a new child cube.The child cube is named after the title of the note it was expanded from.When you expand, the button will be substituted with a “Enter the child cube” button. The Main Note Each face can have multiple notes.The one that was created the first (or the only one) automatically gets the status of the main note of the face.The main note has blue outline and a “+” before the title. Assign the main status to any note. Only one note can have this status. See the application of this in the Structure Management section. Create note To create a note, click on the cube face, either from the outside or from the inside.AWYSIWYG editor will pop up.You can type your note, add images, change colors and fonts. Delete note Resize note Move note by holding this button, or by holding the note itself. Add Image Background to a Note Remove Image Background From a Note
- 5. Background Image Cube faces can have background images.To add a background image, select a cube face and press this button.Upload the image. If the image is not square, the application will crop it. The notes placed on the cube face with an image background will overlay the image. Select a cube face and press this button to remove a background image. The functionality is available from the inside and the outside views. The functionality is available from the inside and the outside views. Other Image Options Images can be also added to the notes (see previous page): • you may insert an image into the note via theWYSIWYG editor; • you may insert an image as a note background. All three image types can be put on one cube face.
- 6. Color-coding Select the cubes coloring theme Choose whether to display the connecting lines between the cubesTry this setting on and off to see which is more convenient for you. Press Update when you’re done with the settings. In your account you may adjust two settings By default, the cubes are white, and the selected cube face is yellow (“None” option in the Cubes coloring theme). “By cubes structure” theme assigns a color to each face of the main cube, and all the structures are colored into the same color as the face of the main cube they are attached to.This mode helps you remember the topic when you’re using the inside view, and helps you navigate in the outside view. “By cube sides” setting colors all the cube faces that face the same direction into the same color.This mode helps you find your way around in the outside view, and helps you keep track of directions in the inside view.
- 7. Outside View InsideView Switch to the inside view Switch to the outside view Rotation Turn to a face by clicking on it. You may also do free rotation if you click-and-hold a cube face other than the one in front of you and move the mouse around. Rotation Rotate the structure by selecting the cube that would be the center of this rotation and use this button. Travelling to the Main cube No matter how complex your structure gets, you may always find your way back to the main cube by using this button. It takes you from the child cube to the parent cube until you reach the main cube. If the active face has an note that’s been expanded into a cube, this button appears. Click it to enter the child cube. Select this mode to zoom in and out by scrolling Select this mode to zoom in and out by scrolling Choose Camera Move mode, hold the left mouse button and move the mouse to move along the current view Free look camera. Select this mode, hold the left mouse button and move the mouse to look around. Navigation A panoramic view of the whole structure of cubes. A view from the inside of a specific cube
- 8. Interface In the following section we will take a look at how to work with the SpatialNote application.You will be prompted to create an account or sign into your account at http://cube.spatialnote.com The interface is simple and minimalistic, so that it doesn’t distract you from the information.When in doubt, look into the lower left corner, there’s a small box with clues on what each button means.
- 9. Interface Create new document When you first open SpatialNote, you find yourself within the main cube of a StartingGuide document. To start a New Document, click on this button. Name/Rename document Enter the name of the document into the text box to name or rename the document.When you rename the document, you don’t create another instance of it. I.e. If you rename Document A into Document B, Document A will no longer be in the list of your documents Save a document All changes you make to a document are saved on the fly. Use SaveAs button when you need to make a copy of the document. Please note that the application allows for having several documents with identical names. Open a document You can have one active document running in SpatialNote.When you open one document, the previous one is saved automatically.To open a document, click on the Load button and select the document from the list that pops up. Delete a document Free account allows for up to 10 documents.Once you reach your limit, you can either upgrade your account or delete some documents . The ability to delete documents is available in the Load menu. Manage Account Sign Out
- 10. Rename cubes To rename a cube, rename a note that it was expanded from.To rename a note, click on it to open, and change the first line of text to the title you need. If the change is not displayed, please refresh the page. Structure Management While the same principles apply to structure management from the outside and inside views, please note that when working with the outside view you need to zoom in on the cube to be able to create, edit or delete notes.This is done to prevent accidental creation or deletion of notes. Outside View InsideView Delete cubes To delete a cube, select it and click on this button. Please remember that when you delete a cube, you also delete the structure that is built around it. Redo Undo Undo/Redo Undo/Redo functionality is available within one session. That is, you can’t undo the action you made in the previous sessions. Undo/Redo functionality works regardless of the view you choose. I.e. you may delete an element from the inside view, and undo the action from the outside view. Cut Copy Paste Redo Undo Cut Copy Paste Cut/Copy/Paste You may change the structure by moving the main notes to other faces.The structure that was expanded from the note will be moved along with the note. Drag/drop the note or cut/paste it if you need to move it. Copy/paste if you need to duplicate. Please note that you can’t move a main element to a face that already has a main note. You may move or duplicate secondary notes freely, as no structure is attached to them Expand the main note of the selected cube face into a new cube
- 11. Why SpatialNote SpatialNote is a unique solution that emerged from our quest for personal and professional efficiency.The user interface is simple, but the underlying mechanisms are very strong. Notes made in 3D make more sense, are easier to remember and recall, and enjoy more attention of the audience when used as presentation material. For more info, please take a look at our website, read our blog and watch our videos.You’re also welcome to contact us with questions. Benefits of spatial note-taking Note-taking in 3D environment employs human innate abilities such as spatial memory and embodied cognition.When you arrange the information in space, you implicitly create spatial metaphors.They plant the information into your memory, and help you transform the information into knowledge. Mnemonics basics Mnemonic techniques are almost as old as the humankind.The most successful and widely known technique is known as Method of loci, or Mind Palace. Essentially, to use this method you have to tie in your memory an object or a concept to a specific place in an imaginary location.The mechanisms that make this method work are employed in SpatialNote along with other useful mechanisms.
- 12. Tips on creating spatial metaphors SpatialNote makes it easy to create spatial metaphors. In SpatialNote, the 3D note-taking space is represented by cubes.You may place the notes on cube faces based on what they represent to you. Past and future might be left and right respectively. Something solid, heavy, essential might go to the bottom to represent foundation, or just indicate that it is heavy. Even if you distribute notes without consciously assigning the meaning to their placement, you will still create spatial metaphors implicitly. Below you may see san example of elements distributed within a cube. In this example the main subject is Bees. See if you can form some spatial metaphors based on the placement of notes. More info about spatial metaphors and other principles behind SpatialNote is available in our blog.
- 13. Tips on creating knowledge structures In SpatialNote the information is stored in fractal structure of cubes.The structure grows around the main cube which represents the core of the certain subject.The six faces of the main cube contain the main topics within the subject; each topic can be expanded into a subtopic, and each subtopic, in turn, can be expanded again, increasing the level of depth and detail.You may choose your own approach to using the fractal structure. If you do, drop us a line, we’d love to know! Below is an example of a SpatialNote knowledge structure.
- 14. Thank you for your time. Please let us know if you have questions that are not covered by this manual.