Interactive text retrieval based on document similarities

In this article we present a prototypical implementation of a software tool for document retrieval which groups/arranges (pre-processed) documents bas ed on a similarity measure. The prototype was developed based on self-organ ising maps to realise interactive associative search and visual exploration of document databases. This helps a user to navigate through similar docum ents. The navigation, especially the search for the first appropriate docum ent, is supported by conventional keyword search methods. The usability of the presented approach is shown by a sample search. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.