Method of displaying a stream of digital data on display area of a predetermined size

Disclosed are methods of graphically displaying digital data containing a predetermined number of digital values, on a display area containing a lower, predetermined number of graphical display elements. One disclosed method includes the steps of attributing to each display element a portion of the digital values, the total number of digital values in all portions being equal the total number of digital values so that variability among the portions is periodic and calculating a representative digital value for each portion and displaying the representative value on a discrete display element in the display. Also disclosed is a method of determining for each graphical display element in an apparatus with a lesser number of graphical display elements a corresponding number of digital values to represent, the digital values being selected from a stream containing a greater number of digital values. The method includes the steps of dividing the greater number by the lesser number to ascertain a quotient and determining for each graphical display element a corresponding number of digital values to represent, based on the quotient. According to this method, the apparatus uses a known method of representing a plurality of digital values using a single graphical display element.