System and method for the structured display of items

A system for displaying items having similarity features associated therewith, comprising:

• a processor configured for:
• receiving a query based on a user selection of an item;
• identifying a plurality of query feature values for a plurality of similarity features respectively associated with the query;
• identifying a plurality of items each of which having a plurality of item feature values for the plurality of similarity features respectively associated therewith;
• for each of the identified items and for each of the similarity features, determining a feature distance between the query feature value and the item feature value;
• generating a two dimensional array of cells each having coordinates relative to an origin cell that present the identified items, wherein the array defines a plurality of reference vectors corresponding to the plurality of similarity features, and wherein the identified items are positioned within the array relative to the origin cell by, for any of the cells:
• determining difference function values for at least some of the identified items each based on the feature distances of the item, the reference vectors and the coordinates of the cell, and
• placing one of the items in the cell based upon the determined difference function values.