a luminous discharge device having a gas filled , gas tight envelope . a cathode is disposed at one side interiorly of the envelope and a luminescent target is disposed at the opposite side of the envelope . an insulating substrate is perforated in the form of a matrix and is positioned intermediate of the cathode and the luminescent target . the insulating plate has a series of rows of anodes disposed on one side thereof and a series of columns of controlled electrodes arranged at the other side thereof in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the anodes . the spacing between the anodes and the cathode is of such a value as to induce a normal gas discharge therebetween while the spacing between the controlled electrodes and the luminescent target is arranged to be such as to prevent a normal gas discharge . by applying a suitable signal to develop a gas discharge adjacent to a given row of anodes and simultaneously applying a selected positive voltage to at least one of the control electrode columns , an electron flow can be induced through a specific one of the holes in the matrix to impinge upon a predetermined spot on the luminous target and thereby produce a video response .