A method and apparatus is described to image a body using electric fields. The electric field is apply to the body from a well controlled electron beam that deposits charge on a glass plate at a particular time and spatial location. This is demonstrated by using the ubiquitous CRT computer monitor. The method is useful in medical imaging and for nondestructive testing. An advantage of the electric field imaging is it requires no ionizing radiation. The use of the computer display allows for proximity detection of a body. A smart control is drawn on the video screen by a program. The control produces and E-field source that occurs at known time in the video refresh. A proximate E-field sensor is used to detect the changes in the signal produced by the button. Changes in the signal level are associated with a proximate body to the button. Detection logic is used to instigate the action of the control.