Abstract: Individual participants in a brainstorming session collectively build a mind map representing their individual contributions and joint conclusions. The participants communicate via a network, such as the Internet, to enable convenient participation from different physical locations. Information recorded by one participant instantly becomes available to the other participants in a convenient manner. Brainstorming session participants access a system of at least one server and data base through a network to access the mind map. The participants also have convenient access to resources, such as Internet search engines, as they collaborate, and they have convenient methods to record information for immediate access by the other participants. With such functionality available, an individual participant can contribute to the brainstorming session at times that are convenient to himself/herself, because it is not necessary that all participants attend a session at the same time.