Abstract: A writing head overlying a recording medium, in the form of a sheet with edges respectively extending in mutually orthogonal directions X and Y, carries a linear array of equispaced electrodes extending in the X direction over a fraction of the width of the sheet. The writing head is displaceable in the Y direction along a supporting bar which in turn may be moved in the X direction. A control unit commands the selective energization of these electrodes to record a dot pattern as the writing head moves in the Y direction to sweep a column of dot positions, the column being wide enough to accommodate several alphanumerical characters and/or graphic symbols read out on a line-by-line basis from a plurality of memory sections. With at least one additional linear electrode array on the writing head, generally transverse to the X direction, heavy lines or curves may be traced on the recording medium.