One objective of the present invention is to optimize a sorting process (20) that, by novel means (240), reduces the number of comparisons required to sort delivered items (10, 230) whether said items are physical tokens, electronic data or other symbolic representations of whatever is sorted. Said novel means (240) include: initializing values (220), recording values (250), comparing items found closest to evolving centroids (310, 320), restricting evolving fields for comparison within limits (330), setting pointers indicating the sorted order of items (360), detecting delivered items and those remaining within limits (60, 260), noting value changes (30, 250), and appropriate recursions (270, 280, 350, 370). A second objective of the present invention is to provide computer software means for said process (20) whereby said novel means (240) can be operably coupled with an apparatus to find items (40) and place them in ordered queues (50) as items (70).