A flat panel display, image sensor memory device, or other type of large area electronic device, particularly but not exclusively with thin-film circuitry, includes an array of device elements (8) which are arranged in rows (N . . . ) and columns (M . . . ) with the device elements (8) in each pair of neighbouring columns (M, M+1) sharing a column conductor (11). The device elements (8) are coupled to their associated row conductor (21) via a first switching element (S1). In each pair (M, M+1) of neighbouring columns, the device elements (8) share a column conductor (11). Each device element of a row (n) in one column (M) of each pair is coupled via a respective second switching element (S2) to one reference conductor (1), while each device element (8) of the same row (N) in the other column (M+1) of the pair is coupled via a respective second switching element (S2) to another reference conductor (2). The reference conductors (1 and 2) function as enabling lines, which extend throughout the array for selecting their respective device elements (8). The device elements (8) in pairs of neighbouring columns share a column conductor (11), without the necessity for the device elements (8) to have opposite orientations, and without the need for the switching elements (S1, S2) to be of opposite conductivity types or to be driven with opposite polarity pulses.