The authors present a graph-based object model of a database that can be directly manipulated for specifying and retrieving information from the database. In other words, a user can explore, manipulate, and select parts of the conceptual schema graph. Parts of this graph selected through the use of perspectives can be combined with other parts to form a more complex query. The result of this query is the selection of a number of multimedia objects satisfying the query.

Specifically, the paper describes both the underlying  theory  and the design and implementation of the Multimedia Object Retrieval Environment (MORE) system, illustrating the approach. The paper is robust and well founded, including references to work in the semantic database and hypertext fields. It presents a useful way of interacting with large databases of information.