diff --git a/nengo_gui/components/__init__.py b/nengo_gui/components/__init__.py
index a46052b6..67167e7d 100644
--- a/nengo_gui/components/__init__.py
+++ b/nengo_gui/components/__init__.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from .pointer import Pointer
 from .netgraph import NetGraph
 from .ace_editor import AceEditor
+from .htmlview import HTMLView
 
 # Old versions of the .cfg files used Templates which had slightly different
 # names than the Components currently use.  This code allows us to
diff --git a/nengo_gui/components/htmlview.py b/nengo_gui/components/htmlview.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6172678a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nengo_gui/components/htmlview.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import struct
+import collections
+
+import nengo
+import numpy as np
+
+from nengo_gui.components.component import Component
+
+
+class HTMLView(Component):
+    def __init__(self, obj):
+        super(HTMLView, self).__init__()
+        self.obj = obj
+        self.obj_output = obj.output
+        self.data = collections.deque()
+
+    def attach(self, page, config, uid):
+        super(HTMLView, self).attach(page, config, uid)
+        self.label = page.get_label(self.obj)
+
+    def add_nengo_objects(self, page):
+        with page.model:
+            self.obj.output = self.gather_data
+
+    def remove_nengo_objects(self, page):
+        self.obj.output = self.obj_output
+
+    def gather_data(self, t, *x):
+        value = self.obj_output(t, *x)
+        data = '%g %s' % (t, self.obj_output._nengo_html_)
+        self.data.append(data)
+        return value
+
+    def update_client(self, client):
+        while len(self.data) > 0:
+            item = self.data.popleft()
+            client.write(item)
+
+    def javascript(self):
+        info = dict(uid=id(self), label=self.label)
+        json = self.javascript_config(info)
+        return 'new Nengo.HTMLView(main, sim, %s);' % json
+
+    def code_python_args(self, uids):
+        return [uids[self.obj]]
diff --git a/nengo_gui/components/netgraph.py b/nengo_gui/components/netgraph.py
index 7b6e99ec..e5df5283 100644
--- a/nengo_gui/components/netgraph.py
+++ b/nengo_gui/components/netgraph.py
@@ -433,6 +433,9 @@ def create_object(self, client, obj, type, parent):
             info['passthrough'] = True
         if type == 'ens' or type == 'node':
             info['dimensions'] = int(obj.size_out)
+        if type == 'node':
+            if callable(obj.output) and hasattr(obj.output, '_nengo_html_'):
+                info['html'] = True
 
         info['sp_targets'] = (
             nengo_gui.components.pointer.Pointer.applicable_targets(obj))
diff --git a/nengo_gui/examples/basics/html.py b/nengo_gui/examples/basics/html.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..29054fc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nengo_gui/examples/basics/html.py
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# Creating Custom Displays
+
+# This demonstrates using the special _nengo_html_ variable to create
+# custom visualizations.  In general, this lets you take values from the model
+# and use them to make HTML that displays something useful for your situation.
+#
+# The basic technique is that if you define a function for a Node, in addition
+# to returning a value, you can also set the _nengo_html_ parameter on that
+# function.  You can set it to any HTML you want, and that HTML will be
+# displayed in a custom HTML graph (available by right-clicking on the Node).
+
+# The first example is a timer function that says "Ready..." for the
+# first second of the simulation, then says "Set..." for the next second,
+# and then says "Go!".  This shows how you can change the HTML based on the
+# time of the simulation.
+#
+# The second example shows that the custom HTML can also be based on the values
+# represented by neurons.  Here, we make a Node that reads in a value that is
+# treated as an amount.  If the value is above 0.5, the HTML says "large", 
+# if the value is below -0.5, it says "small", and otherwise it says "medium".
+#
+# Finally, the third example uses SVG and trigonometry to create a simple
+# visualization of a two-joint arm.  The two values represented by the
+# Ensemble are the two joint angles (the shoulder and the elbow).  From these
+# values, the position of the elbow and hand are computed, and lines are
+# drawn to show the arm.
+
+import nengo
+import numpy as np
+
+model = nengo.Network()
+with model:
+    
+    # Example 1: a timer
+    def timer_function(t):
+        if t < 1.0:
+            timer_function._nengo_html_ = '<h1>Ready...</h1>'
+            return 0
+        elif t < 2.0:
+            timer_function._nengo_html_ = '<h1>Set...</h1>'
+            return 0
+        else:
+            timer_function._nengo_html_ = '<h1>Go!</h1>'
+            return 1
+    timer = nengo.Node(timer_function)
+            
+            
+    # Example 2: displaying a value        
+    def amount_function(t, x):
+        if x < -0.5:
+            amount_function._nengo_html_ = '<h2>small</h2>'
+        elif -0.5 < x < 0.5:
+            amount_function._nengo_html_ = '<h2>medium</h2>'
+        else:
+            amount_function._nengo_html_ = '<h2>large</h2>'
+    stim_amount = nengo.Node(0)
+    amount = nengo.Ensemble(n_neurons=100, dimensions=1)
+    display_amount = nengo.Node(amount_function, size_in=1)
+    nengo.Connection(stim_amount, amount)
+    nengo.Connection(amount, display_amount)
+            
+            
+    # Example 3: a two-joint arm    
+    def arm_function(t, angles):
+        len0 = 50
+        len1 = 30
+        x1 = 50
+        y1 = 100
+        x2 = x1 + len0 * np.sin(angles[0])
+        y2 = y1 - len0 * np.cos(angles[0])
+        x3 = x2 + len1 * np.sin(angles[0] + angles[1])
+        y3 = y2 - len1 * np.cos(angles[0] + angles[1])
+        arm_function._nengo_html_ = '''
+        <svg width="100%" height="100%" viewbox="0 0 100 100">
+            <line x1="{x1}" y1="{y1}" x2="{x2}" y2="{y2}" style="stroke:black"/>
+            <line x1="{x2}" y1="{y2}" x2="{x3}" y2="{y3}" style="stroke:black"/>
+        </svg>
+        '''.format(**locals())
+    stim_angles = nengo.Node([0.3, 0.3])
+    angles = nengo.Ensemble(n_neurons=200, dimensions=2)
+    arm = nengo.Node(arm_function, size_in=2)
+    nengo.Connection(stim_angles, angles)
+    nengo.Connection(angles, arm)
+    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nengo_gui/examples/basics/html.py.cfg b/nengo_gui/examples/basics/html.py.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cfa54bd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nengo_gui/examples/basics/html.py.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+_viz_0 = nengo_gui.components.HTMLView(arm)
+_viz_config[_viz_0].label_visible = True
+_viz_config[_viz_0].width = 0.145178
+_viz_config[_viz_0].height = 0.151002
+_viz_config[_viz_0].y = 0.768603
+_viz_config[_viz_0].x = 0.876166
+_viz_1 = nengo_gui.components.Slider(stim_angles)
+_viz_config[_viz_1].label_visible = True
+_viz_config[_viz_1].width = 0.124673
+_viz_config[_viz_1].x = 0.233144
+_viz_config[_viz_1].y = 0.790798
+_viz_config[_viz_1].max_value = 1
+_viz_config[_viz_1].min_value = -1
+_viz_config[_viz_1].height = 0.145663
+_viz_2 = nengo_gui.components.HTMLView(timer)
+_viz_config[_viz_2].label_visible = True
+_viz_config[_viz_2].width = 0.197581
+_viz_config[_viz_2].height = 0.0953106
+_viz_config[_viz_2].y = 0.0978446
+_viz_config[_viz_2].x = 0.833259
+_viz_4 = nengo_gui.components.Value(timer)
+_viz_config[_viz_4].label_visible = True
+_viz_config[_viz_4].width = 0.145816
+_viz_config[_viz_4].x = 0.497152
+_viz_config[_viz_4].y = 0.0915505
+_viz_config[_viz_4].max_value = 1
+_viz_config[_viz_4].min_value = -1
+_viz_config[_viz_4].height = 0.101605
+_viz_5 = nengo_gui.components.Slider(stim_amount)
+_viz_config[_viz_5].label_visible = False
+_viz_config[_viz_5].width = 0.0998842
+_viz_config[_viz_5].x = 0.212906
+_viz_config[_viz_5].y = 0.379993
+_viz_config[_viz_5].max_value = 1
+_viz_config[_viz_5].min_value = -1
+_viz_config[_viz_5].height = 0.143865
+_viz_6 = nengo_gui.components.HTMLView(display_amount)
+_viz_config[_viz_6].label_visible = True
+_viz_config[_viz_6].width = 0.127589
+_viz_config[_viz_6].height = 0.1061
+_viz_config[_viz_6].y = 0.415959
+_viz_config[_viz_6].x = 0.856185
+_viz_ace_editor = nengo_gui.components.AceEditor()
+_viz_net_graph = nengo_gui.components.NetGraph()
+_viz_sim_control = nengo_gui.components.SimControl()
+_viz_config[_viz_sim_control].kept_time = 4
+_viz_config[_viz_sim_control].shown_time = 0.5
+_viz_config[amount].pos=(0.5338306914210958, 0.4086156823527614)
+_viz_config[amount].size=(0.09749681440124454, 0.10359036530132232)
+_viz_config[angles].pos=(0.5519433694044356, 0.7832269165834734)
+_viz_config[angles].size=(0.07919650508520541, 0.09767091585553361)
+_viz_config[arm].pos=(0.8780716431486573, 0.7769328184385826)
+_viz_config[arm].size=(0.158196444012342, 0.14761158744564548)
+_viz_config[display_amount].pos=(0.8561991906510176, 0.41041399610844403)
+_viz_config[display_amount].size=(0.1392403185143874, 0.11883856735471768)
+_viz_config[model].pos=(-0.04680408247364714, 0.01466241789112259)
+_viz_config[model].size=(1.0055632718705836, 1.0055632718705836)
+_viz_config[model].expanded=True
+_viz_config[model].has_layout=True
+_viz_config[stim_amount].pos=(0.21292035569101672, 0.4032207410857123)
+_viz_config[stim_amount].size=(0.10132806751847824, 0.11883856735471773)
+_viz_config[stim_angles].pos=(0.23084097794972894, 0.786109085846491)
+_viz_config[stim_angles].size=(0.1255178668096988, 0.13956290262502596)
+_viz_config[timer].pos=(0.20136940789451646, 0.10488798199188551)
+_viz_config[timer].size=(0.10038894308056127, 0.08287229224105784)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nengo_gui/static/htmlview.js b/nengo_gui/static/htmlview.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b6ee3c61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nengo_gui/static/htmlview.js
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+/**
+ * Decoded pointer display
+ * @constructor
+ *
+ * @param {dict} args - A set of constructor arguments (see Nengo.Component)
+ * @param {Nengo.SimControl} args.sim - the simulation controller
+ */
+
+Nengo.HTMLView = function(parent, sim, args) {
+    Nengo.Component.call(this, parent, args);
+    var self = this;
+
+    this.sim = sim;
+
+    this.pdiv = document.createElement('div');
+    this.pdiv.style.width = '100%';
+    this.pdiv.style.height = '100%';
+    Nengo.set_transform(this.pdiv, 0, 0);
+    this.pdiv.style.position = 'fixed';
+    this.pdiv.classList.add('htmlview');
+    this.div.appendChild(this.pdiv);
+
+    /** for storing the accumulated data */
+    this.data_store = new Nengo.DataStore(1, this.sim, 0);
+
+    /** call schedule_update whenever the time is adjusted in the SimControl */
+    this.sim.div.addEventListener('adjust_time',
+            function(e) {self.schedule_update();}, false);
+
+    this.on_resize(this.get_screen_width(), this.get_screen_height());
+
+
+
+};
+Nengo.HTMLView.prototype = Object.create(Nengo.Component.prototype);
+Nengo.HTMLView.prototype.constructor = Nengo.Pointer;
+
+
+/**
+ * Receive new line data from the server
+ */
+Nengo.HTMLView.prototype.on_message = function(event) {
+    var data = event.data.split(" ", 1);
+    var time = parseFloat(data[0]);
+
+    var msg = event.data.substring(data[0].length + 1);
+
+    this.data_store.push([time, msg]);
+    this.schedule_update();
+}
+
+/**
+ * Redraw the lines and axis due to changed data
+ */
+Nengo.HTMLView.prototype.update = function() {
+    /** let the data store clear out old values */
+    this.data_store.update();
+
+    var data = this.data_store.get_last_data()[0];
+
+    if (data === undefined) {
+        data = '';
+    }
+
+    this.pdiv.innerHTML = data;
+
+};
+
+/**
+ * Adjust the graph layout due to changed size
+ */
+Nengo.HTMLView.prototype.on_resize = function(width, height) {
+    if (width < this.minWidth) {
+        width = this.minWidth;
+    }
+    if (height < this.minHeight) {
+        height = this.minHeight;
+    };
+
+    this.width = width;
+    this.height = height;
+    //this.div.style.width = width;
+    //this.div.style.height = height;
+
+    this.label.style.width = width;
+
+    this.update();
+};
diff --git a/nengo_gui/static/netgraph_item.js b/nengo_gui/static/netgraph_item.js
index 73110686..971a6d88 100644
--- a/nengo_gui/static/netgraph_item.js
+++ b/nengo_gui/static/netgraph_item.js
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Nengo.NetGraphItem = function(ng, info, minimap, mini_item) {
     this.fixed_height = null;
     this.dimensions = info.dimensions;
     this.minimap = minimap;
+    this.html_node = info.html;
     if (minimap == false) {
         this.g_networks = ng.g_networks;
         this.g_items = ng.g_items;
@@ -350,6 +351,9 @@ Nengo.NetGraphItem.prototype.generate_menu = function () {
         if (this.dimensions > 1) {
             items.push(['XY-value', function() {self.create_graph('XYValue');}])
         }
+        if (this.html_node) {
+            items.push(['HTML', function() {self.create_graph('HTMLView');}])
+        }
     }
     if (this.sp_targets.length > 0) {
         items.push(['Semantic pointer',
diff --git a/nengo_gui/templates/page.html b/nengo_gui/templates/page.html
index 3f101d11..33ad8930 100644
--- a/nengo_gui/templates/page.html
+++ b/nengo_gui/templates/page.html
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ <h4 class="modal-title"></h4>
         <script src="static/sim_control.js"></script>
         <script src="static/netgraph.js"></script>
         <script src="static/pointer.js"></script>
+        <script src="static/htmlview.js"></script>
         <script src="static/netgraph_item.js"></script>
         <script src="static/netgraph_conn.js"></script>
         <script src="static/top_toolbar.js"></script>