Abstract: A wide screen display enables a number of viewers the simultaneous viewing f rapidly updated data in real time at video rates. A beam of coherent radiation from a laser is modulated at video rates in an acousto-optic modulator. The modulated beam is fed to an X-scanner that imparts an acousto-optic displacement of the modulated beam in the X-direction. A Y-scanner is aligned to receive the X-scanned modulated beam and imparts an acousto-optic reciprocal displacement of the beam so that the video modulated beam is displaced in both the X- and Y-directions. A liquid crystal light valve is disposed to receive the X and Y displaced modulated beam so that it scans the surface of the light valve to stimulate the photosensor layers within. This causes the impression of a replica voltage pattern on a bi-refringent liquid crystal in the valve. A high intensity lamp projects a high intensity incoherent light beam onto the liquid crystal light valve via a polarizing biprism.