This Note-Taking App is a Game Changer - Roam Research

Summary

This video explores Roam Research, a note-taking app praised by its users for its unique bottom-up associative thought structure. Unlike traditional hierarchical apps, Roam encourages extensive linking between pages, emulating the brain's web of ideas. The video discusses Roam's features, including its bullet list structure, linking capabilities, and the ability to focus on specific sections of notes. It also addresses the app's limitations, such as the lack of a mobile app and API, and compares it to other note-taking tools. The host shares his experience using Roam for research and taking detailed book notes, highlighting its benefits for creativity and learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video is sponsored by Skillshare and offers a two-month free trial to the first 1,000 sign-ups.
• 📝 The presenter revisits the topic of note-taking apps, focusing on a new app called Roam Research, which has gained a dedicated user base.
• 🔍 Roam Research is praised for its unique approach to note-taking, which is based on a bullet list structure that encourages extensive writing.
• 🔗 Roam Research stands out with its bottom-up associative thought process, allowing pages to link together in a non-hierarchical manner.
• 🔗 The linking feature in Roam is compared to the brain's neural network, emulating the way ideas are interconnected.
• 📚 The script mentions a historical note-taking method called Zettelkasten, used by Niklas Luhmann, which Roam emulates digitally.
• 🔍 Roam allows for both linked and unlinked references, providing flexibility in how notes are connected and accessed.
• 🔍 The script highlights the creative potential of associative thinking, facilitated by Roam's structure, which combines disparate ideas.
• 📱 A notable con of Roam is the lack of a dedicated mobile app, though it can be accessed via mobile browsers.
• 🔌 The absence of an API means Roam lacks integrations with other apps, and there is no OCR functionality for digitizing handwritten notes.
• 📊 Roam is not a replacement for Notion, especially for tasks like project management and creating complex tables and databases.
• 📚 The presenter uses Roam for detailed note-taking from books, finding it beneficial for learning retention and generating video ideas.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is an introduction and review of Roam Research, a note-taking app that has been gaining popularity among its users.

What is the unique feature of Roam Research that sets it apart from other note-taking apps?

Roam Research's unique feature is its bottom-up associative thought structure, which allows for linking pages and blocks in a way that emulates the way the brain organizes information, unlike traditional hierarchical top-down organization in other apps.

How does Roam Research handle the organization of notes?

Roam Research organizes notes through a system of interlinked pages and blocks, creating a web of interconnected ideas that can be easily navigated and expanded upon.

What is the 'graph overview' feature in Roam Research?

The 'graph overview' feature in Roam Research is a visual representation of the interconnected web of pages and blocks, showing how ideas are linked together.

How does the speaker describe the experience of using Roam Research for research and note-taking?

The speaker describes the experience as encouraging more writing during research mode, providing an organized structure that avoids the clutter of 'research vomit' often experienced with other apps like Evernote.

What is the Zettelkasten system mentioned in the video, and how is it related to Roam Research?

The Zettelkasten system is an analog method for organizing knowledge using note cards, created by Niklas Luhmann. It is related to Roam Research as the app emulates the Zettelkasten's bottom-up linking structure in a digital format.

What are some of the cons or limitations of using Roam Research according to the video?

Some cons of Roam Research include the lack of a dedicated mobile app, no API for integrations, absence of optical character recognition (OCR), and simpler table features compared to apps like Notion.

How does the speaker use Roam Research for book notes?

The speaker uses Roam Research to take detailed notes from books by marking up the physical book with a pen and then transferring those highlights into Roam for a more structured and searchable format.

What is the significance of the 'unlinked references' feature in Roam Research?

The 'unlinked references' feature allows users to see all instances where a certain term is mentioned without being linked, providing an opportunity to retroactively create links and further connect ideas within the note database.

How does the video mention the use of Roam Research for outlining video scripts?

The speaker mentions using Roam Research for outlining video scripts because of its ability to handle large amounts of interconnected information and ideas, making it a great tool for research and content creation.

What is the Skillshare promotion mentioned in the video, and how can viewers benefit from it?

The Skillshare promotion offers a two-month free trial for the first 1,000 people who sign up using the provided link. This allows viewers to access a habit-building class and thousands of other classes on various topics for free during the trial period.