Abstract: In an information retrieval and display system, an interface unit receives signals from a hand-held control unit and controls the information displayed on a display. The information available for display is arranged in a tree structure. The interface unit is arranged to scroll through the currently displayed information in a first direction at a speed related to the displacement of the control unit in a first direction, to scroll through the currently displayed information in a second direction at a speed related to the displacement of the control unit in a second direction, to display information from a lower level in the tree in response to movement of the control unit in a third direction, and to display information from a higher level in the tree in response to movement of the control unit in a fourth direction.