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This article reviews some of the more unconventional text retrieval systems, emphasising those which have been commercialised. These sophisticated systems improve on conventional retrieval by using either innovative software or hardware to increase retrieval speed or functionality, precision or recall. The software systems reviewed are: AIDA, CLARIT, Metamorph, SIMPR, STATUS/IQ, TCS, TINA and TOPIC. The hardware systems reviewed are: CAFS‐ISP, the Connection Machine, GESCAN,HSTS,MPP, TEXTRACT, TRW‐FDF and URSA.

In the third paragraph, the author states that ‘Conventional text retrieval systems suffer from a number of problems. First, indexing terms and / or classificators have normally to be assigned manually, which is a very time‐consuming process and can lead to severe problems with regard to inter‐indexer consistency.’ To what types of systems does this refer? From a content perspective it would appear to be addressing the problems of a keyword system, also referred to as a document coding system. Yet, they are referred to as ‘conventional text retrieval systems.’ Manual indexing is not a component of today's text retrieval system, elementary or advanced.

The authors consider a group of commercial vendors who may be potential agents or players in electronic document supply. The group examines five potential providers of products/services: Dow Jones, Geac, OCLC, Faxon, RLG using Malone's 1989 comments on electronic markets as a framework, and using Porter's analytics to describe competition, and the role of technology in conferring advantage. The authors suggest that electronic document supply has produced an observable shift in exchange relationships between suppliers and buyers: the former are regrouping into partnerships which offer a confusing range of options to clients.

Considers the installation of a flexible manufacturing system at French aero engine manufacturer SNECMA. Examines the preliminary study, the computer hierarchy of the FMS, the physical layout, the workforce and training, and the problems encountered. Concludes that while there have been minor problems, and further FMS′s are unlikely, the current FMS is a source of pride to the company.