New technologies such as multimedia, digital libraries, and electronic publishing require large databases and powerful query languages. This project investigates a database management system that supports a meta-query language with which users can design their own visual query languages to specify both the data to retrieve and the display format. Theoretical aspects of the research address the characterization of classes of visual queries that can be evaluated with guaranteed time-complexity by providing a careful design of the query evaluation engine. Practical goals include the implementation of a database management system supporting visual queries, the dissemination of results using the WWW, and the transfer of technology. The project has a strong educational component, seeking the involvement of graduate and undergraduate students and the inclusion of prototypes in the classroom so as to reflect the more interactive and visual aspects of today's computer science. Visual query languages will be key components of the next generation of declarative database interfaces because they take advantage of the user's visual perception to convey information efficiently. Their successful implementation will provide database systems with fundamental capabilities not currently available.
