Abstract: A display and communication system includes display panels located at several locations which are separated from each other. Each panel has a matrix of plug-in modules and each module has lights and a switch device which can be operated to change which light on that module is illuminated, thereby indicating the status of a physical location, such as a table in a restaurant. The plug-in modules can be arranged on all of the panels to resemble the arrangement of the physical locations which are being represented. When the switch is operated to change the illumination of a light in a module, this change is communicated to all other panels, causing the counterpart modules in the other panels to exhibit the same illumination scheme.