INFORMATION RETRIEVAL APPARATUS

An information retrieval apparatus includes an input unit from which information-retrieval information is input, database interfaces that can access databases, a display unit for displaying, in the form of a bar, information that is obtained by the access, a central processing unit (CPU) that can move a cursor for designating a position in the lengthwise direction of the information bar and that uses a database interface to retrieve, from the databases, information corresponding to the lengthwise position designated by the cursor. The information retrieved by the CPU is displayed on the display unit, and data can be retrieved without the user performing an input operation by using a keyboard or the like.