I would like to make a 9 (maybe 12) character display using incandescent
bulbs arranged in 7 segment format, so I could have 6 inch high characters.
This would of course be driven by a PIC providing RS232 output to the
display. Does anyone know of serial to parallel, or whatever it is I need,
drivers for this type application. Something that would take the serial
input and drive the appropriate segments of each character. I'm not
necessarily looking for a moving display just able to flash a few  words
one after another.

Thanks
Jack