When the Nixie tube was introduced in the 1950s, it faced a significant drawback: its driving circuitry required transistors with relatively high breakdown voltages capable of handling the elevated operating voltages. At the time, such transistors were not widely available. This limitation created a demand for an alternative display technology that could operate with low-voltage, low-current logic circuitry. The solution was the Pixie tube, initially designated as the Z550M and later renamed the ZM1050.

The MG-19B is a tiny, segmented neon-filled display tube produced by Rodan and marketed under the Elfin brand, designed for use in small electronic instruments. It features two additional diagonal segments, enabling it to display the digits ‘1’ and ‘7’ more naturally, as well as certain other alphanumeric characters. The tube also includes a right decimal point. Unlike Nixie tubes, each cathode in the MG-19B requires an individual resistor, as the current needed varies with the number of illuminated segments. With a 180V breakdown voltage and a recommended 230V anode voltage, the tube operates at significantly higher voltages than most Nixie tubes. This made driving the MG-19B more complex, as affordable high-voltage transistors were not readily available when the tube was introduced.

The OmniRay SAO M 40 is a so-called Sphericular Optic Display. While similar in both appereance and operation to projection displays like the IEE one-plane readout, the theory behind the M 40 is vastly different. It employs the principle of geometric optics to produce a character on a flat viewing screen. The screen area is subdivided into more than a thousand tiny convex lenses, each focusing light from its specific focal plane. Characters are displayed by illuminating only certain sections of the screen from different angles, which selectively allows light to pass through areas, producing a character composed of many tiny dots. A comprehensive explanation of the operational theory behind this device is available in the description of a similar model manufactured by Burroughs, accessible via the link provided below.