1. An electronic interface being displayed on a display device to permit a user to explore a data collection including records and directional references between records, the electronic interface comprising: a display region; a first control element, the first control element and a first visual indicia being displayed adjacently on the display region, the first visual indicia corresponding to a first record, the first control element being responsive to the user so that when the first control element is operated, a first plurality of visual indicia is displayed adjacent to the first visual indicia on the display region, each visual indicia of the first plurality of visual indicia corresponding to a record having a directional reference of a first direction to the first record; and a second control element, the second control element being displayed adjacent to the first visual indicia on the display region, the second control element being responsive to the user so that when the second control element is operated, a second plurality of visual indicia is displayed adjacent to the first visual indicia on the display region, each visual indicia of the second plurality of visual indicia corresponding to a record having a directional reference of a second direction to the first record, the second direction being different from the first direction.