Abstract: A video character recognizer is provided, comprising an analog signal processor for receiving an analog video signal and for generating a position signal and a pixel signal therefrom in response to the analog video signal; a framing circuit responsive to the position signal for receiving the pixel signal and for generating an item of pixel-frame data in response to the position signal, each item of pixel-frame data being indicative of a plurality of pixel signal values; and a code conversion stored program for deriving a character code representation, such as an ASCII value, in response to the item of pixel-frame data. The recognizer derives ASCII values in real time as would be displayed on a cathode-ray-tube display in response to an analog video signal.