An apparatus comprising: a cable including conductors to carry data signals and a power voltage from a device when the cable is connected to the device; and at least one active display assembly, fixed along a length of the cable, and including: a power converter connected to the conductors and configured to convert the power voltage to a supply voltage; and a display configured to display programmed indicia responsive to the supply voltage; wherein the active display assembly further includes: a controller connected to the supply voltage and configured to program the display to display the programmed indicia; wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a program data message from the device via the data signals, wherein the program data message identifies alphanumeric indicia with which to program the display; and program the display to display the alphanumeric indicia; wherein the controller is further configured to: send a self-identification data message originating at the active display to the device via the data signals when the controller is initially powered ON, wherein the self-identification message includes an identifier of the active display assembly and indicates indicia with which the active display is pre-programmed to display when the active display is initially powered on. a cable including conductors to carry data signals and a power voltage from a device when the cable is connected to the device; and at least one active display assembly, fixed along a length of the cable, and including: a power converter connected to the conductors and configured to convert the power voltage to a supply voltage; and a display configured to display programmed indicia responsive to the supply voltage; wherein the active display assembly further includes: a controller connected to the supply voltage and configured to program the display to display the programmed indicia; wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a program data message from the device via the data signals, wherein the program data message identifies alphanumeric indicia with which to program the display; and program the display to display the alphanumeric indicia; wherein a power converter connected to the conductors and configured to convert the power voltage to a supply voltage; and a display configured to display programmed indicia responsive to the supply voltage; wherein the active display assembly further includes: a controller connected to the supply voltage and configured to program the display to display the programmed indicia; wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a program data message from the device via the data signals, wherein the program data message identifies alphanumeric indicia with which to program the display; and program the display to display the alphanumeric indicia; wherein receive a program data message from the device via the data signals, wherein the program data message identifies alphanumeric indicia with which to program the display; and program the display to display the alphanumeric indicia; wherein the controller is further configured to: send a self-identification data message originating at the active display to the device via the data signals when the controller is initially powered ON, wherein the self-identification message includes an identifier of the active display assembly and indicates indicia with which the active display is pre-programmed to display when the active display is initially powered on. send a self-identification data message originating at the active display to the device via the data signals when the controller is initially powered ON, wherein the self-identification message includes an identifier of the active display assembly and indicates indicia with which the active display is pre-programmed to display when the active display is initially powered on.