Here is the beginning of a plan for the Family Diagram app, now including concepts for a simulation model:
- Standardized Family Diagram app:
- Construct traditional static family diagrams in iPad / Mac, eventually windows.
- Use standardized built-in symbols for emotional process between members.
- Track session snapshots by date for each case file, each snapshot updating ages, births/deaths, marriages/divorces, emotional process, other dimensions of functioning.
- Ability to cycle through snapshots to see emotional process over time.
- Export single session to PDF to printing / emailing.
- Export single session to PNG with transparent background for Powerpoint presentations.
- Automatic cloud storage to keep data in sync between iPad/laptop.
- Add simulation model to traditional family diagram.
- Generate hypothetical snapshots of nodal event as function of anxiety * differentiation = triangulation-tendency for each family member into hypothetical snapshots.
- Append hypothetical snapshots to actual snapshot timeline for consistency.
- New 3D spherical view for individuality/togetherness (see photo below).
- Supplemental view to traditional family diagram, tied into same session snapshot data.
- Family members evenly spaced on 3D spherical configuration so each can have “visual” relationship with each other.
- Draw relationships as lines connecting members varying thickness/color as needed for various data.
- Visualize session snapshot as function of individuality/togetherness, with members moving toward each other to form togetherness factions and away from each other to show emotional distance.
- Show next session snapshot with new triangle config, animate members into new configuration to represent triangles via change in physical “distance” to other members.
- Benefit: View family as single emotional unit with changing emotional configuration.
- Benefit: Visualize emotional process relative to theoretical “ideally differentiated” system where all members have equal spacing and equal variance of individuality/togetherness between snapshots.
- Benefit: Holistic view of relative density/sparsity, shows “complexes” in family unit.
- Benefit: View patterns of “complexes” of density/sparsity over time.
- Research+refine simulation model to move from speculation to prediction.

Conceptual mock-up of 3D-spherical representation of individuality/togetherness.
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