diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 81f6d07..c8c67be 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -58,10 +58,8 @@ Usage Example
     # Finally you can optionally specify a custom I2C address of the HT16k33 like:
     #matrix = matrix.Matrix16x8(i2c, address=0x70)
 
-    # Clear the matrix.  Always call show after changing pixels to make the display
-    # update visible!
+    # Clear the matrix.
     matrix.fill(0)
-    matrix.show()
 
     # Set a pixel in the origin 0,0 position.
     matrix.pixel[0, 0] = 1
@@ -77,7 +75,6 @@ Usage Example
     # Set the blink rate
     matrix.blink_rate = 2
 
-    matrix.show()
 
 Contributing
 ============
diff --git a/adafruit_ht16k33/ht16k33.py b/adafruit_ht16k33/ht16k33.py
index 9aab0e2..aaa77d0 100644
--- a/adafruit_ht16k33/ht16k33.py
+++ b/adafruit_ht16k33/ht16k33.py
@@ -39,11 +39,19 @@
 
 
 class HT16K33:
-    """The base class for all displays. Contains common methods."""
-    def __init__(self, i2c, address=0x70):
+    """
+    The base class for all displays. Contains common methods.
+
+    :param int address: The I2C addess of the HT16K33.
+    :param bool auto_write: True if the display should immediately change when
+        set. If False, `show` must be called explicitly.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, i2c, address=0x70, auto_write=True):
         self.i2c_device = i2c_device.I2CDevice(i2c, address)
         self._temp = bytearray(1)
         self._buffer = bytearray(17)
+        self._auto_write = None
+        self._auto_write = auto_write
         self.fill(0)
         self._write_cmd(_HT16K33_OSCILATOR_ON)
         self._blink_rate = None
@@ -85,6 +93,18 @@ def brightness(self, brightness):
         self._write_cmd(_HT16K33_CMD_BRIGHTNESS | brightness)
         return None
 
+    @property
+    def auto_write(self):
+        """Auto write updates to the display."""
+        return self._auto_write
+
+    @auto_write.setter
+    def auto_write(self, auto_write):
+        if isinstance(auto_write, bool):
+            self._auto_write = auto_write
+        else:
+            raise ValueError('Must set to either True or False.')
+
     def show(self):
         """Refresh the display and show the changes."""
         with self.i2c_device:
@@ -97,6 +117,8 @@ def fill(self, color):
         fill = 0xff if color else 0x00
         for i in range(16):
             self._buffer[i+1] = fill
+        if self._auto_write:
+            self.show()
 
     def _pixel(self, x, y, color=None):
         mask = 1 << x
@@ -108,6 +130,8 @@ def _pixel(self, x, y, color=None):
         else:
             self._buffer[(y * 2) + 1] &= ~(mask & 0xff)
             self._buffer[(y * 2) + 2] &= ~(mask >> 8)
+        if self._auto_write:
+            self.show()
         return None
 
     def _set_buffer(self, i, value):
diff --git a/adafruit_ht16k33/matrix.py b/adafruit_ht16k33/matrix.py
index 41722c6..000c0e7 100644
--- a/adafruit_ht16k33/matrix.py
+++ b/adafruit_ht16k33/matrix.py
@@ -99,3 +99,5 @@ def fill(self, color):
         for i in range(8):
             self._set_buffer(i * 2, fill1)
             self._set_buffer(i * 2 + 1, fill2)
+        if self._auto_write:
+            self.show()
diff --git a/adafruit_ht16k33/segments.py b/adafruit_ht16k33/segments.py
index 06610f0..43e2229 100644
--- a/adafruit_ht16k33/segments.py
+++ b/adafruit_ht16k33/segments.py
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ def print(self, value):
             self._number(value)
         else:
             raise ValueError('Unsupported display value type: {}'.format(type(value)))
+        if self._auto_write:
+            self.show()
 
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
         self._put(value, key)
@@ -217,6 +219,8 @@ def print(self, value):
             self._number(value)
         else:
             raise ValueError('Unsupported display value type: {}'.format(type(value)))
+        if self._auto_write:
+            self.show()
 
     def scroll(self, count=1):
         """Scroll the display by specified number of places."""
diff --git a/examples/matrix.py b/examples/matrix.py
index 297542e..958cda9 100644
--- a/examples/matrix.py
+++ b/examples/matrix.py
@@ -24,15 +24,12 @@
 # Finally you can optionally specify a custom I2C address of the HT16k33 like:
 #matrix = matrix.Matrix16x8(i2c, address=0x70)
 
-# Clear the matrix.  Always call show after changing pixels to make the display
-# update visible!
+# Clear the matrix.
 matrix.fill(0)
-matrix.show()
 
 # Set a pixel in the origin 0,0 position.
-matrix.pixel(0, 0, 1)
+matrix[0, 0] = 1
 # Set a pixel in the middle 8, 4 position.
-matrix.pixel(8, 4, 1)
+matrix[8, 4] = 1
 # Set a pixel in the opposite 15, 7 position.
-matrix.pixel(15, 7, 1)
-matrix.show()
+matrix[15, 7] = 1
diff --git a/examples/segments.py b/examples/segments.py
index f9e5abf..4deac99 100644
--- a/examples/segments.py
+++ b/examples/segments.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 # Author: Tony DiCola
 # License: Public Domain
 
+import time
+
 # Import all board pins.
 from board import *
 import busio
@@ -22,11 +24,14 @@
 # Finally you can optionally specify a custom I2C address of the HT16k33 like:
 #display = segments.Seg7x4(i2c, address=0x70)
 
-# Clear the display.  Always call show after changing the display to make the
-# update visible!
+# Clear the display.
 display.fill(0)
-display.show()
 
+# Can just print a number
+display.print(42)
+time.sleep(2)
+
+# Or, can set indivdual digits / characters
 # Set the first character to '1':
 display[0] = '1'
 # Set the second character to '2':
@@ -35,5 +40,3 @@
 display[2] = 'A'
 # Set the forth character to 'B':
 display[3] = 'B'
-# Make sure to call show to see the changes above on the display!
-display.show()