Abstract: A cathode ray tube provided on the exterior of its screen with a layer of polymeric piezoelectric material, for example polyvinylidene fluoride. Localized changes in physical stress on the layer, such as by way of localized pressure of heating on the layer, create a charge region which produces alteration of a beam current of an electron beam when the beam scans over the region. This alteration is detected, as by a sensing loop, to produce a data input.