DATA I/O CORPORATION












                                 NOTICE OF 2004

                                 ANNUAL MEETING

                                       and

                                 PROXY STATEMENT








                              DATA I/O CORPORATION





                                                                   April 2, 2004


To Our Shareholders:

You are  cordially  invited  to  attend  the  2004  Annual  Meeting  of Data I/O
Corporation, which will be held at Data I/O's headquarters at 10525 Willows Road
N.E.,  Redmond,  Washington  98052.  The meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. Pacific
Daylight Time on Thursday, May 20, 2004. Following the meeting, there will be an
opportunity to see some of Data I/O's exciting new products.

Officers  of Data I/O will be  attending  and would be  pleased  to  respond  to
questions  either  during or after the  meeting.  We will  review  the  business
operations of Data I/O for 2003 and the first quarter of 2004 and report on Data
I/O's  strategic plan for the future.  Formal business will include the election
of  directors,  consideration  of a  proposal  to amend  Data  I/O's  2000 Stock
Compensation  Incentive Plan, and  ratification of the continued  appointment of
Grant Thornton LLP as Data I/O's independent auditors.

Please read the proxy  materials  carefully.  Your vote is  important.  Data I/O
appreciates you considering and acting on the proposals presented.  I am looking
forward to seeing you on May 20th.

                                        Sincerely,


                                        Frederick R. Hume
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer





                              DATA I/O LOCATION MAP

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                              DATA I/O CORPORATION

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             NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - May 20, 2004
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To the Shareholders of Data I/O Corporation:

NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of Data I/O
Corporation  (the  "Company"  or "Data  I/O") will be held at 2:00 p.m.  Pacific
Daylight Time, on Thursday, May 20, 2004, at Data I/O's principal offices, 10525
Willows Road N.E., Redmond, Washington 98052, for the following purposes:

(1)  Election of Directors:  To elect seven  directors,  each to serve until the
     next  annual  meeting  of  shareholders  or until his or her  successor  is
     elected and qualified or until such director's earlier death,  resignation,
     or removal.

(2)  2000 Stock Compensation  Incentive Plan: To consider and vote on a proposal
     to amend the Data I/O Corporation  2000 Stock  Compensation  Incentive Plan
     (the "2000  Plan") to increase  the number of shares  reserved for issuance
     under the 2000 Plan by an additional 300,000 shares of common stock.

(3)  Ratification of Independent  Auditors:  To ratify the continued appointment
     of Grant Thornton LLP as Data I/O's  independent  auditors for the calendar
     year ended December 31, 2004.

(4)  Other  Business:  To  consider  and vote upon such  other  business  as may
     properly  come  before the  meeting or any  adjournments  or  postponements
     thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 22, 2004, as the
Record Date for the determination of shareholders  entitled to notice of, and to
vote at, the 2004 Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.


                                 By Order of the Board of Directors



                                 Frederick R. Hume
                                 President and Chief Executive Officer


Redmond, Washington
April 2, 2004

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                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting in person,  we urge you to sign,
date and return the accompanying proxy card at your earliest  convenience.  This
will ensure the presence of a quorum at the meeting. Promptly returning a signed
and  dated  proxy  card  will save  Data I/O the  extra  expense  of  additional
solicitation.  Your proxy is  revocable  at your  request  any time before it is
voted. If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person if you wish even if you
have previously returned your proxy card. An addressed, postage-paid envelope is
provided in order to make  certain that your shares will be  represented  at the
Annual  Meeting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                              DATA I/O CORPORATION
                             10525 Willows Road N.E.
                            Redmond, Washington 98052
                              ____________________

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                  May 20, 2004

                           INFORMATION REGARDING PROXY

This  Proxy  Statement  and the  accompanying  form of proxy  are  furnished  in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors ("Board of
Directors") of Data I/O Corporation (the "Company" or "Data I/O") for use at the
Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  to be held on  Thursday,  May  20,  2004,  at
2:00 p.m.  Pacific Daylight Time at Data I/O's principal offices,  10525 Willows
Road N.E.,  Redmond,  Washington  98052,  and at any  adjournment  thereof  (the
"Annual Meeting").  Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 22,
2004 (the  "Record  Date") are  entitled  to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting.  This Proxy  Statement  and a copy of Data I/O's 2003 Annual  Report to
Shareholders are being mailed to shareholders on or about April 9, 2004.

A proxy card is enclosed for your use. You are  requested on behalf of the Board
of  Directors  to sign,  date,  and return  the proxy  card in the  accompanying
envelope, which is postage-paid if mailed in the United States or Canada.

A proxy in the accompanying  form, which is properly signed,  dated and returned
and not revoked,  will be voted in accordance  with the  instructions  contained
therein.  To vote on the election of directors,  check the appropriate box under
Item No. 1 on your proxy card. You may (a) vote for all of the director nominees
as a group, (b) withhold authority to vote for all director nominees as a group,
or (c) vote for all director nominees as a group except those nominees indicated
to the contrary.  To vote on a proposal to amend the Data I/O  Corporation  2000
Stock  Compensation  Incentive  Plan (the "2000 Plan") to increase the number of
shares reserved for issuance under the 2000 Plan by an additional 300,000 shares
of common stock,  check the appropriate box under Item No. 2 on your proxy card.
You may (a) vote "FOR"  approval  of the  amendment  to the 2000 Plan,  (b) vote
"AGAINST"  approval of the  amendment to the 2000 Plan,  or (c)  "ABSTAIN"  from
voting  on the  approval  of the  amendment  to the  2000  Plan.  To vote on the
proposal to ratify Grant Thornton LLP as Data I/O's independent auditors for the
calendar year ended December 31, 2004,  check the appropriate box under Item No.
3 on your proxy card.  You may (a) vote "FOR"  approval of the  ratification  of
Grant  Thornton  LLP as Data  I/O's  independent  auditors,  (b) vote  "AGAINST"
approval of the  ratification  of Grant  Thornton LLP as Data I/O's  independent
auditors, or (c) "ABSTAIN" from voting on the ratification of Grant Thornton LLP
as Data I/O's  independent  auditors.  Proxies  which are  returned  to Data I/O
without instructions will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors. Any
shareholder  who  returns a proxy may  revoke it at any time prior to the voting
thereof on any matter (without,  however, affecting any vote taken prior to such
revocation) by (i)  delivering  written notice of revocation to the Secretary of
Data I/O at Data I/O's principal offices,  (ii) executing and delivering to Data
I/O another  proxy dated as of a later  date,  or (iii)  voting in person at the
Annual Meeting.

                     VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

The only  outstanding  voting  securities of Data I/O are shares of common stock
(the  "Common  Stock").  As of the Record Date,  there were  8,008,561 of Common
Stock issued and outstanding, and each such share is entitled to one vote at the
Annual  Meeting.  The  presence  in person or by proxy of holders of record of a
majority of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock is required to constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual  Meeting.  Shares of Common
Stock underlying  abstentions  will be considered  present at the Annual Meeting
for the purpose of  calculating a quorum.  Under  Washington  law and Data I/O's
charter  documents,  if a quorum is present,  the seven nominees for election to
the Board of Directors who receive the greatest number of affirmative votes cast
at the Annual  Meeting  shall be  elected  directors.  Abstentions  will have no
effect on the  election of  directors  because they are not cast in favor of any
particular  candidate.  There  can be no broker  non-votes  on the  election  of
directors because brokers who hold shares for the accounts of their clients have
discretionary  authority  to vote such  shares with  respect to the  election of
directors. The proposals to approve the amendment to the 2000 Plan and to ratify
the continued  appointment of Grant Thornton as Data I/O's independent  auditors
will be approved,  if a quorum is present,  if the number of votes cast in favor
of the  proposals  exceeds  the  number of votes  cast  against  the  proposals.
Abstentions  and broker  non-votes on the proposals  will have no effect because
approval of the proposals is based solely on the votes cast. Proxies and ballots
will be received  and  tabulated by Mellon  Investor  Services,  an  independent
business entity not affiliated with Data I/O.

The Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ  SmallCap Stock Market under the symbol
"DAIO".  Effective  December 31, 2002,  the Common  Stock  transferred  from the
NASDAQ National Market to the NASDAQ  SmallCap  Market.  The last sale price for
the Common Stock,  as reported by the NASDAQ  SmallCap Stock Market on March 22,
2004, was $ 3.02 per share.

The  following  table sets forth  information  with respect to all  shareholders
known by Data I/O to be the  beneficial  owners of more than five percent of its
outstanding  Common  Stock as of March 22,  2004.  Except as noted  below,  each
person or entity  has sole  voting and  investment  powers  with  respect to the
shares shown.



                                                      Amount and Nature
                                                        of Beneficial              Percent of Shares
         Name and Address                                 Ownership                    Outstanding
                                                                             
         Glen F. Ceiley                                     1,255,053(1)                 15.67%
         Bisco Industries Inc.
         1500 N. Lakeview Ave.
         Anaheim, CA  92807

         Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc.                      360,200(2)                  4.64%
         1299 Ocean Avenue - 11th Floor
         Santa Monica, CA  90401

         John W. Stanton & Theresa E. Gillespie               546,600(3)                  6.82%
         3650 131st Ave. SE
         Bellevue, WA  98006
____________________


(1)  The holding  shown is as of March 2, 2004,  as reported to Data I/O by Glen
     F. Ceiley on behalf of himself,  Matthew  Ceiley,  Bisco  Industries,  Inc.
     ("Bisco"), and Bisco Industries,  Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan (the
     "Bisco Plan") on Form 4. Mr. Glen Ceiley reported that he holds sole voting
     and  dispositive  power with respect to 3,557 shares,  Matthew Ceiley holds
     sole voting and dispositive  power with respect to 700 shares,  Bisco holds
     sole voting and dispositive  power with respect to 851,673 shares,  and the
     Bisco Plan holds sole voting and dispositive  power with respect to 399,123
     shares. Mr. Glen Ceiley is the President, director, and sole shareholder of
     Bisco and is also the sole  trustee of the Bisco  Plan.  In addition to the
     shares reported above,  Mr. Ceiley's share ownership also includes  options
     to purchase 29,375 shares exercisable within 60 days.
(2)  The holding  shown is as of February  6, 2004,  as reported by  Dimensional
     Fund Advisors, Inc., a registered investment advisor ("Dimensional"),  on a
     Schedule  13G  filed  pursuant  to Rule  13d-1(b)  or  13d-2(b)  under  the
     Securities  Exchange Act of 1934.  The Schedule 13G  indicates  that one or
     more affiliates of Dimensional holds sole voting and dispositive power with
     respect to 360,200 shares.  Dimensional  disclaims  beneficial ownership of
     all of these shares.
(3)  The holding shown is as of January 30, 2002, as reported by John W. Stanton
     and  Theresa  E.  Gillespie,  husband  and wife,  on a  Schedule  13G filed
     pursuant to Rule 13d-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We confirmed
     the holding as unchanged with a representative  of Stanton and Gillespie on
     March 19,  2004.  The  Schedule  13G  indicates  that Mr.  Stanton  and Ms.
     Gillespie  share  voting  and  dispositive  power  with  respect to 546,600
     shares, which they own as tenants-in-common.

Directors' and Officers' Share Ownership

The  following  table  indicates  ownership  of Data I/O's  Common Stock by each
director of Data I/O, each executive  officer named in the  compensation  tables
appearing  later in this Proxy  Statement,  and by all  directors  and executive
officers  as a group,  all as of March  22,  2004.  Data I/O is not aware of any
family relationships between any director, director nominee or executive officer
of Data I/O.



                                                Amount and Nature of  Percent of Shares
Name                                          Beneficial Ownership       Outstanding
                                                                
Glen F. Ceiley                                       1,284,428  (1)         16.04%
Frederick R. Hume                                      316,320  (2)         3.95%
Joel S. Hatlen                                         169,078  (3)         2.11%
Paul A. Gary                                           136,532  (4)         1.70%
Edward D. Lazowska                                      43,598  (5)          (6)
Daniel A. DiLeo                                         34,375  (7)          (6)
Steven M. Quist                                         21,250  (8)          (6)
William R. Walker                                        2,500  (9)          (6)
All current directors and
executive officers
as a group (8 persons)                               2,008,081 (10)         25.07%

-------------------------------
(1)  See the above description of Mr. Ceiley's ownership and beneficial
     ownership.
(2)  Includes options to purchase 287,500 shares exercisable within 60 days.
(3)  Includes options to purchase 85,875 shares exercisable within 60 days.
(4)  Includes options to purchase 34,375 shares exercisable within 60 days.
(5)  Includes options to purchase 34,375 shares exercisable within 60 days.
(6)  Less than 1 percent each.
(7)  Includes options to purchase 29,375 shares exercisable within 60 days.
(8)  Includes options to purchase 21,250 shares exercisable within 60 days.
(9)  Includes options to purchase 2,500 shares exercisable within 60 days.
(10) Includes options to purchase 524,625 shares exercisable within 60 days.

Data I/O is not  aware  of any  arrangement  the  operation  of  which  may at a
subsequent date result in a change of control of Data I/O.

                              CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

In October 2003, the Board of Directors adopted a Corporate  Governance Charter,
in February 2004,  adopted a Nominating  Committee  Charter,  and in March 2004,
adopted an updated Code of Ethics,  all of which are posted,  together  with our
updated charter for the Audit Committee on the corporate  governance page of our
website.  The  corporate  governance  page can be  accessed  on our  website  at
www.dataio.com/corporate/ir.asp.  The updated  Audit  Committee  Charter is also
attached  to this Proxy  Statement  as  Appendix  A. All of these  Charters  are
consistent with the applicable  requirements of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002
and our NASDAQ listing standards.

Data I/O's Code of Ethics  applies to all  directors,  officers and employees of
Data I/O, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.
The key  principles  of the Code are to act legally,  and with  integrity in all
work for Data  I/O.  We will  post any  amendments  to our Code of Ethics on the
corporate governance page of our website at www.dataio.com/corporate/ir.asp.  In
the unlikely  event that the Board of  Directors  approves any sort of waiver to
the  Code of  Ethics  for  our  executive  officers  or  directors,  information
concerning  such  waiver  will also be posted at that  location.  In addition to
posting information  regarding  amendments and waivers on our website,  the same
information  will be  included  in a  Current  Report  on Form 8-K  within  five
business  days  following the date of the  amendment or waiver,  unless  website
posting of such  amendments  or waivers is  permitted by the rules of The NASDAQ
Stock Market, Inc.

                        PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

At the Annual  Meeting,  the  shareholders  will vote on the  election  of seven
directors to serve until the next Annual  Meeting or until his or her  successor
has been qualified and elected or such director's earlier death,  resignation or
removal. The Board of Directors has approved the seven nominees named below, all
of whom are currently  members of the Board of  Directors.  Each of the nominees
has  indicated  that they are willing and able to serve as  directors.  However,
should one or more of the  nominees not accept the  nomination,  or otherwise be
unwilling or unable to serve,  it is intended that the proxies will be voted for
the  election of a  substitute  nominee or nominees  designated  by the Board of
Directors.

RECOMMENDATION:  The  Board  of  Directors  recommends  a vote  FOR  each of the
director nominees.

Glen F. Ceiley, age 58, has been a director of Data I/O since February 1999 when
he was  appointed to the Board of Directors  pursuant to a Standstill  Agreement
dated  February 10, 1999 which  expired on February 10,  2000.  Since 1973,  Mr.
Ceiley has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bisco Industries, a
distributor of fasteners and electronic  components,  which, as part of a group,
owns approximately  15.67% of the stock of Data I/O. Mr. Ceiley is also Chairman
of the Board of Family Steak Houses of Florida, Inc. In May 1998, the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  issued a cease  and  desist  order  against  Bisco in
connection with Bisco's  purchase of certain shares of Family Steak Houses while
its tender offer for shares of Family Steak Houses was  outstanding in violation
of Rule 10b-13 of the Exchange  Act.  Bisco  consented to the entry of the order
without admitting or denying the findings set forth in the order.

Daniel A.  DiLeo,  age 56, has been a director  of Data I/O since May 2000.  Mr.
DiLeo has more than 25 years  experience  in both the system  and  semiconductor
divisions of Lucent  Technologies  and AT&T Companies.  In March 2003, Mr. DiLeo
retired as the Executive  Vice  President of  Optoelectronics  at Agere Systems,
Inc., a former Lucent  subsidiary,  where he had served in such  capacity  since
February 2001. From June 1998 through February 2001, Mr. DiLeo was the President
of the Optoelectronics Division at Lucent Technologies,  Microelectronics Group.
From January 1996 to June 1998, Mr. DiLeo was the Vice President of the Wireless
Business  Unit at Lucent  Technologies,  Inc. Mr. DiLeo is also a director of RF
Micro Devices.

Paul A. Gary,  age 63, has been a director  of Data I/O since March 1998 and was
named Chairman of the Board in May 1999. From 1987 until his retirement in 1996,
Mr. Gary worked for Lucent  Microelectronics  (now Agere Systems,  Inc.) as Vice
President of the High  Performance IC and NETCOM  business  units.  From 1981 to
1987, he held various  leadership  positions with (the former) Western  Electric
Company,  including  Director  of  Engineering  and  Manufacturing  and  General
Manager.  From 1967 to 1981,  Mr. Gary worked for Bell  Laboratories,  finishing
there  as  Laboratory  Director.  Mr.  Gary  is  also  a  director  of  TriQuint
Semiconductors, Inc.

Frederick R. Hume, age 61, became President and Chief Executive  Officer of Data
I/O on February 23, 1999. He has been a director of Data I/O since January 1999.
From 1988 until his  retirement in 1998, Mr. Hume was Vice President and General
Manager of Keithley  Instruments in Cleveland,  Ohio. From 1972 to 1988, he held
various management positions at John Fluke  Manufacturing,  including Group Vice
President for Manufacturing and Research and Development.

Edward D.  Lazowska,  age 53, has been a director of Data I/O since August 1996.
Since 1977,  Dr.  Lazowska has been a member of the faculty of the University of
Washington's Department of Computer Science & Engineering. From 1993 to 2001, he
held the position of Department  Chair.  He currently holds the Bill and Melinda
Gates  Endowed  Chair.  Mr.  Lazowska is also a director  of  Intrepid  Learning
Systems.

Steven M. Quist,  age 58, was appointed to the Board of Directors of Data I/O on
March 12, 2001.  Since January 2003, Mr. Quist has been a part-time  employee of
CyberOptics  Corporation.  From  February  1998  to  December  2002,  he was the
President and Chief Executive Officer of CyberOptics Corporation.  He has served
on  CyberOptic's  Board of Directors since 1991. From 1992 to February 1998, Mr.
Quist was the  President of Rosemount,  Inc., a subsidiary  of Emerson  Electric
Company,  St.  Louis,   Missouri.  Mr.  Quist  is  also  a  director  of  Rimage
Corporation.

William R.  Walker,  age 62, was  appointed to the Board of Directors on October
31,  2003.  Since  1997,  Mr.  Walker  has been  the  Chief  Financial  Officer,
Secretary,  Vice  President of Hi/fn,  Inc.  From 1996 to 1997, he was the Chief
Financial Officer,  Secretary, Vice President of MMC Networks, Inc. From 1984 to
1996, Mr. Walker was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Zilog,
Inc.

                             THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Director Independence

Glen F. Ceiley,  Paul A. Gary,  Edward D. Lazowska,  Daniel A. DiLeo,  Steven M.
Quist, and William R. Walker are independent directors,  as defined in Rule 4200
(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers listing standards (the
"NASD Rules").

Communications with the Board of Directors

Shareholders  may communicate with the Board of Directors by sending an email or
by  sending  a  letter  to Data I/O  Corporation  Board  of  Directors,  c/o the
Secretary,  P.O. Box 97046,  Redmond, WA 98073-9746.  The Secretary will receive
the  correspondence  and forward it to the Chairman of the  applicable  Board of
Directors  Committee  or to any  individual  director or  directors  to whom the
communication is directed.

                                BOARD COMMITTEES

During the year ended  December 31, 2003,  there were four meetings of the Board
of Directors. Each of the incumbent directors who were on the Board of Directors
during  2003  attended  at least 75% of the  aggregate  of the  total  number of
meetings of the Board of Directors  and the total number of meetings held by all
committees  of the  Board of  Directors  on which he served  during  his term of
service on the Board of Directors.

Data I/O does not have a policy  requiring  members of the Board of Directors to
attend  the  Annual  Meeting,  although  we  typically  encourage  our  Board of
Directors to attend.  However,  no member of our Board of Directors,  except Mr.
Hume,  attended our 2003 Annual  Meeting  because our Board of Directors did not
have a meeting scheduled for that day.

The Board of Directors has four standing  Committees:  the Corporate  Governance
Committee,  the Audit Committee,  the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating
Committee. The Audit Committee consisted of Messrs. Lazowska, DiLeo (Chair), and
Quist  throughout  2003. We added Mr. Walker to the Audit  Committee in November
2003. The Compensation  Committee consisted of Messrs. Gary, Ceiley (Chair), and
DiLeo throughout 2003. The Nominating  Committee  consisted of Messrs.  Lazowska
(Chair), Gary, and Quist throughout 2003.

Corporate Governance Committee

In April 2003, the Board of Directors created a Corporate  Governance  Committee
consisting of all  independent  directors.  The Corporate  Governance  Committee
develops,  recommends to the Board of Directors, and monitors a set of corporate
governance principles applicable to Data I/O. The Corporate Governance Committee
met one time in 2003 and otherwise  conducted its business at Board of Directors
meetings in 2003.

Audit Committee

The Audit  Committee  considers  and  recommends  to the Board of Directors  the
engagement of independent  certified public accountants for the ensuing year and
the  terms of such  engagement;  reviews  the scope of the  audit;  periodically
reviews Data I/O's program of internal control and audit functions; receives and
reviews  the  reports of the  independent  accountants;  and  reviews the annual
financial  report to the directors and  shareholders of Data I/O. Each member of
the Audit Committee is an independent director, as defined by the NASDAQ listing
standards and the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002. The Audit  Committee  includes a
financial  expert,  William R. Walker, as defined in the Securities and Exchange
("SEC") rules adopted  pursuant to the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002.  Mr. Walker
also has the financial  sophistication  required by Rule  4350(d)(2) of the NASD
Rules.  On February 10, 2003, the Audit  Committee  recommended and the Board of
Directors amended the charter for the Audit Committee.  See attached Appendix B.
The Audit  Committee  met four times during  2003.  See the "Report of the Audit
Committee."

Compensation Committee

The  Compensation  Committee  makes  recommendations  to the Board of  Directors
concerning the  compensation  of Data I/O's  executive  officers.  The committee
administers Data I/O's management  incentive  compensation program and its stock
option,  stock purchase and stock  appreciation  rights plans.  The Compensation
Committee reviews all employee benefit programs and approves significant changes
in major  programs and all new programs.  The  Compensation  Committee met three
times during 2003.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating  Committee  seeks  qualified  candidates to serve on the Board of
Directors,  recommends  them  for the  Board  of  Director's  consideration  for
election  as  directors  at the Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  and  proposes
candidates to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee
also recommends  nominees for the various  committees of the Board of Directors.
The Nominating Committee met four times in 2003.

 Consideration of Director Nominees

The Nominating  Committee,  in evaluating and determining whether to recommend a
person as a candidate for election as a director,  considers relevant management
and/or technology experience; certain values such as integrity,  accountability,
judgment and adherence to high performance  standards;  independence pursuant to
applicable  guidelines;  ability and  willingness to undertake the required time
commitment to  Board  functions;  and  an absence of conflicts of  interest with
Data I/O.

  Identifying Director Nominees; Consideration of Nominees of the Shareholders

The  Nominating  Committee may employ a variety of methods for  identifying  and
evaluating  nominees for director.  The Committee regularly assesses the size of
the Board,  the need for  particular  expertise  on the Board,  and  whether any
vacancies on the Board are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event
that vacancies are  anticipated,  or otherwise  arise,  the Committee  considers
various  potential  candidates  for director  which may come to the  Committee's
attention through current Board members, professional search firms, shareholders
or other persons.  These candidates are evaluated at regular or special meetings
of the Committee, and may be considered at any point during the year.

The Nominating  Committee will consider candidates  recommended by shareholders,
when the nominations are properly submitted, under the criteria summarized above
in  "Consideration  of Director  Nominees" and in accordance with the procedures
described  below in  "Shareholder  Nominations and Proposals for the 2005 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders."  Following  verification of the shareholder  status of
persons  proposing  candidates,  the Committee makes an initial  analysis of the
qualifications  of any candidate  recommended by shareholders or others pursuant
to the criteria  summarized above to determine if the candidate is qualified for
service  on the Data I/O Board of  Directors  before  deciding  to  undertake  a
complete  evaluation  of the  candidate.  If any  materials  are  provided  by a
shareholder or  professional  search firm in connection with the nomination of a
director candidate, such materials are forwarded to the Committee as part of its
review.   Other  than  the   verification  of  compliance  with  procedures  and
shareholder  status,  and the initial  analysis  performed by the  Committee,  a
potential  candidate  nominated  by a  shareholder  is  treated  like any  other
potential candidate during the review process by the Committee. Shareholders did
not propose any candidates for election at the 2004 Annual Meeting.

           COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors  consisted  of  Messrs.   Gary,  DiLeo,  and  Ceiley.  None  of  these
individuals has served at any time as an officer or employee of Data I/O or as a
member of the board of  directors or  compensation  committee of any entity that
has had one or more executive  officers which served as a member of the Board of
Directors or the Compensation Committee.

                               BOARD COMPENSATION

Employee directors  (Frederick R. Hume) do not receive  additional  compensation
for serving on the Board of Directors.  Non-employee  directors  received a cash
retainer for 2003 of $3,750 for each quarter of service  (increased to $5,000 as
of July 1, 2003) plus $1,000 for each full Board of Directors  meeting  attended
and $500 for each teleconference  Board of Directors meeting attended.  Data I/O
paid additional quarterly compensation to the non-employee directors for serving
as Chairman of the Board of Directors or as a committee chair: $2,500 (increased
to $3,750 as of July 1, 2003) for Chairman of the Board of  Directors;  and $750
(increased  to  $1,250  as of July 1,  2003) for the  Audit,  Compensation,  and
Nominating  Committee chairs.  The Chairman of the Board serves as the Corporate
Governance  Committee  Chair and does not receive  additional  compensation  for
chairing  such  Committee.  In addition,  each  non-employee  Board of Directors
member as of May 20, 2003, was granted 7,500 stock options. New members who join
the Board of Directors are granted 15,000 shares as an initial grant.  The stock
options were granted under the provisions  and terms of the 2000 Plan.  Data I/O
also  reimburses  non-employee  directors  for actual  travel and  out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with service to Data I/O.

The  following  table  shows  compensation  paid  by  Data  I/O to  non-employee
directors during 2003.




                                               Cash Compensation                              Stock Option Grants
                            ---------------------------------------------------------    ----------------------------
                                              Chairman of the Board/
                                 Board          Committee Chairman                                  Number of
Name                          Retainer ($)         Retainer ($)       Meeting Fees ($)           Options (#)(1)
                                                                                     
Glen F. Ceiley                   $17,500              $4,000                $4,000                    7,500
Daniel A. DiLeo                  $17,500              $4,000                $4,000                    7,500
Paul A. Gary                     $17,500             $12,500                $4,000                    7,500
Edward D. Lazowska               $17,500              $4,000                $4,000                    7,500
Steven M. Quist                  $17,500                  $0                $4,000                    7,500
William R. Walker                3,369.57*                $0                    $0                   15,000(2)


*Effective 10/31/03 - prorated
-----------------------------------------
(1) Stock Options were granted to the directors in May 2003 at an exercise price
of $1.885 per share.  The options granted vest 8.333% quarterly over three years
and expire at the end of six years.
(2) Initial stock option grant in November  2003 at an exercise  price of $3.125
per share. The options granted vest 8.333% quarterly over three years and expire
at the end of six years.

            SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section  16(a)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  requires  Data  I/O's
directors,  certain  officers and persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of
Data I/O's  Common  Stock  ("Reporting  Persons")  to file with the SEC  initial
reports of  ownership  and reports of changes in  ownership  of Common Stock and
other  equity  securities  of Data I/O.  Reporting  Persons are  required by SEC
regulations to furnish Data I/O with copies of all Section 16(a) reports.

To Data I/O's  knowledge,  based  solely on its review of copies of such reports
furnished  to Data I/O and written  representations  that no other  reports were
required,  all Section 16(a) filing requirements  applicable to its officers and
directors were complied with during 2003,  except Mr. Ceiley filed one report on
Form 4 one day late.

                          REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee oversees Data I/O's financial reporting process on behalf of
the  Board of  Directors.  Management  has the  primary  responsibility  for the
consolidated  financial  statements  and the  reporting  process  including  the
systems of internal  controls.  Audit  Committee  members  are not  professional
accountants, or auditors and their functions are not intended to duplicate or to
certify the activities of management or the independent  auditors. In fulfilling
its oversight responsibilities,  the Committee reviewed the audited consolidated
financial  statements in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) with management including
a  discussion  of the quality,  not just the  acceptability,  of the  accounting
principles,  the  reasonableness  of significant  judgments,  and the clarity of
disclosures in the financial statements.

The Committee  reviewed with the independent  auditors,  who are responsible for
expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited consolidated  financial
statements with accounting  principles  generally accepted in the United States,
their  judgments as to the quality,  not just the  acceptability,  of Data I/O's
accounting  principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed by
SAS 61 with the  Committee  under  generally  accepted  auditing  standards.  In
addition,  the  Committee  has  discussed  with  the  independent  auditors  the
auditors' independence from management and Data I/O including the matters in the
written  disclosures  and the letter  provided  by the  independent  auditors as
required by the Independence Standards Board and considered the compatibility of
nonaudit services with the auditors' independence.

The Committee  discusses with Data I/O's independent  auditors the overall scope
and plans for their respective  audits. The Committee meets with the independent
auditors,  with and without management  present, to discuss the results of their
examinations, their evaluations of Data I/O's internal controls, and the overall
quality of Data I/O's  financial  reporting.  The  Committee  held four meetings
during 2003.

In  reliance on the reviews and  discussions  referred to above,  the  Committee
recommended  to the Board of  Directors  (and the Board has  approved)  that the
audited  consolidated  financial  statements  be included  in Data I/O's  Annual
Report  (Form  10-K) for the year ended  December  31,  2003 for filing with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  The Committee has selected Grant Thornton
LLP as Data I/O's auditors for the current year.

Respectfully submitted,

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Daniel A. DiLeo
Edward D. Lazowska
Steven M. Quist
William R. Walker

March 22, 2004

                    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT'S FEES AND SERVICES

Audit  Fees:  Aggregate  fees  billed  by Grant  Thornton  LLP for  professional
services  rendered for the audit of Data I/O's financial  statements for each of
the years  ended  December  31,  2002 and 2003 and for  review of the  financial
statements included in each of Data I/O's Form 10-Q, were approximately  $90,600
and $132,600, respectively.

Audit Related Fees:  Aggregate  fees billed for each of the years ended December
31, 2002 and 2003 for assurance and related  services by Grant Thornton LLP that
are reasonably  related to the  performance of the audit or review of Data I/O's
financial statements that are not reported under the caption "Audit Fees" above,
including pension plan audit, S-8 related services,  audit committee  attendance
and accounting treatment consultations,  were approximately $11,400 and $12,200,
respectively.

Tax Fees:  Aggregate  fees billed for each of the years ended  December 31, 2002
and 2003 for  professional  services  rendered by the Grant Thornton LLP for tax
compliance,  tax  advice,  tax  examination  support,  and  tax  planning,  were
approximately $300 and $8,350, respectively.

All Other Fees:  Aggregate  fees billed for each of the years ended December 31,
2002 and 2003 for all other products and services provided by Grant Thornton LLP
that are not  otherwise  disclosed  above,  including  consultations  on foreign
business practices and liquidation of a foreign  subsidiary,  were approximately
$230 and $6,225 for 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Policy on Pre-Approval by Audit  Committee of  Services Performed by Independent
Auditors.

The Audit  Committee's  policy  is to  pre-approve  all  audit  and  permissible
non-audit  services  provided by the  independent  auditors.  These services may
include audit  services,  non-audit  services,  tax services and other services.
Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of service and
is subject to a specific engagement authorization.

During the year,  circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage
the  independent  auditors  for  additional  services  not  contemplated  in the
original pre-approval. In those circumstances, the Audit Committee has delegated
pre-approval  authority to the Chair of the Audit  Committee for those instances
when pre-approval is needed prior to a scheduled Audit Committee meeting.  These
additional  approvals  should be reported at the next scheduled  Audit Committee
meeting.

For 2003, all services provided by the independent auditors were pre-approved.


             REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITEE ON ANNUAL COMPENSATION

The  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of  Directors  (the  "Committee")  is
composed entirely of independent outside directors. The Committee is responsible
for setting and  administering the policies which govern all of the compensation
programs of Data I/O.

The Committee has  established a compensation  plan for executive  officers with
three components:  annual base salary, annual management incentive compensation,
and long-term stock options.  Each of these components is described below.  This
executive officer  compensation  plan is evaluated  annually by the Committee by
reviewing Data I/O's overall financial performance, individual executive officer
performance,  and  executive  officer  total  compensation  compared  with other
companies within the electronics industry.

Annual Base Salary Structure.  The Committee establishes a base salary structure
for each  executive  officer  position.  This  structure  defines  the  minimum,
mid-point and maximum salary levels and the relationship of salary to total cash
compensation.  The Committee reviews the salary structure  periodically based on
surveys of  compensation  paid to  executives  performing  similar  duties  with
electronic  manufacturing and software  companies of approximately the same size
as Data I/O, located primarily in the United States.  This group was selected as
it is  believed  to be  representative  of the  companies  with  which  Data I/O
competes for key employees.

The Committee's objective is to maintain a salary structure which, when combined
with annual incentive compensation,  provides Data I/O's executive officers with
total cash  compensation  which is near the market  median for  executives  with
similar  responsibilities,  experience  and  ability.  In light  of the  current
economic situation, we froze executive management salaries at the 2001 level and
deferred  consideration  of  normal  annual  adjustments  as part of Data  I/O's
short-term cost control efforts.  Due to the salary freeze,  no new surveys were
obtained;  however in 2001, the executive officer group as a whole received cash
compensation  which,  according  to survey  data,  was  within  the 25th to 75th
percentile of the aggregate median cash compensation paid to officers in similar
positions at similar-sized electronics companies.

Management Incentive  Compensation Plan ("MICP"). The MICP offers each executive
officer  a   performance-based   opportunity  to  earn  additional  annual  cash
compensation  in an amount tied to a percentage of the executive  officer's base
salary. The Committee's  objective in setting executive MICP percentages and the
formulas for MICP payout is to pay above industry average total compensation for
better than expected or industry average  historical  financial  performance and
below industry average  compensation for worse than expected or industry average
financial  historical  performance.  The percentages of base salary targeted for
MICP payout ("the Guideline") for executives for a given year are established by
the Committee early in the year. The 2003 MICP Guideline for executive  officers
was 40% of base salary.

The actual MICP payout to an executive officer, in relation to his Guideline for
2003 was a function of three measures of Data I/O's pre-tax profit: 1) quarterly
profit; 2) growth in annual profit;  and 3) record annual profit.  The Committee
believes  that these  measures of key  activities  for Data I/O during 2003 will
affect near-term and long-term shareholder value. A greater or lesser percentage
of Guideline is to be paid based on Data I/O's actual pre-tax profit.

MICP payouts for 2003 were based on the  achievement  of a certain  level of the
combined  measures  described above.  For 2003,  payouts were made for quarterly
profit  and  growth in  annual  profit,  but not for  record  profit.  Executive
officers received an MICP payout in March 2004 of 54% of Guideline for 2003. See
"Summary Annual Compensation Table"

There were no 2002 payouts.  However, based on management's performance in 2002,
the results of the restructuring and the turnaround performance in the difficult
economic environment,  Data I/O paid a discretionary bonus of $20,000 to each of
Mr. and Hume and Mr. Hatlen in March 2003.

Stock Option Plan. The Committee  approves grants under the Data I/O Corporation
1986  Employee  Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated (the "1986 Plan") and
the 2000 Plan  (collectively  "the Plans").  These are Data I/O's only long-term
incentive  plans.  The  primary  purpose  of the Plans is to make a  significant
element of executive pay a reward for taking actions which maximize  shareholder
value over time. The Committee  grants options based primarily on its perception
of the executive's ability to affect future shareholder value and secondarily on
the competitive  conditions in the market for exceptionally  talented executives
who typically command  compensation  packages which include a significant equity
incentive.  All options granted to the President and Chief Executive Officer and
any other executive  officer in 2003 were based on these criteria.  The Board of
Directors  authorized an additional  300,000  shares for the 2000 Employee Stock
Option Plan on February 10, 2004. See also "Proposal 2: Amendment to 2000 Plan."

In the electronics industry,  stock options represent a key compensation element
which attracts, retains and motivates exceptional executives. Accordingly, total
outstanding  options as a percentage of outstanding shares tends to be higher in
electronics  than  in  other  industries.  As of the  Record  Date,  Data  I/O's
outstanding  options  represented  approximately  16.57% of outstanding  shares,
which Data I/O  believes is slightly  below the average  within the  electronics
industry.

Historically, all options granted by Data I/O have been granted with an exercise
price equal to the fair market  value of Data I/O's  Common Stock on the date of
grant  and,  accordingly,  will  only  have  value  if Data  I/O's  stock  price
increases.  Options granted to employees during 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 under
the 2000 Plan become  exercisable  at a rate of 6.25% per quarter,  except for a
50,000 option grant to Mr. Hume as described  below.  All options granted during
1999, except those granted in January 1999, become  exercisable at a rate of 25%
per year.  Options granted in January 1999 become exercisable at a rate of 12.5%
per  quarter.  All 1998  options  granted  during and after  August  1998 become
exercisable  at a rate of 12.5% per quarter.  All  outstanding  options  granted
prior to August 1998 become  exercisable  at a rate of 25% per year.  Options to
Directors vest quarterly over a 3 year period.

Fifty thousand  options  granted to Mr. Hume under the 1986 Plan during 2000 are
subject to 4-year cliff vesting and become  exercisable at the end of the 4-year
period,   with   acceleration   provisions   included  for  earlier  vesting  if
predetermined  revenue and profit  targets are  achieved.  The targets  were not
achieved for 2000, 2001,  2002, or 2003, so none of the acceleration  provisions
will apply.

All grants are subject to  acceleration  of vesting in  connection  with certain
events  leading  to a change in  control of Data I/O or at any other time at the
discretion  of the  Committee.  All options  granted to  executive  officers are
issued in tandem with limited stock appreciation  rights ("SARs"),  which become
exercisable only in the event of a change in control of Data I/O. See "Change in
Control and Severance Arrangements."

For additional  information concerning the number of new options granted in 2003
to the Chief  Executive  Officer and other executive  officers,  see "Option/SAR
Grants in the Last Year."

Performance  Evaluation.  The base salary of each executive  officer is reviewed
annually by the President and Chief Executive Officer. This is done on the basis
of a formal  review  written  by the  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer,
evaluating  the  executive's  prior  year  performance  against  documented  job
responsibilities  and specific  predetermined  annual objectives.  In developing
executive compensation packages to recommend to the Committee, the President and
Chief Executive  Officer  considers,  in addition to each executive's prior year
performance,  the  executive's  long-term value to Data I/O, the executive's pay
relative to that for comparable  surveyed jobs, the  executive's  experience and
ability  relative to  executives  in similar  positions,  and the  current  year
increases in executive compensation projected in industry surveys.

The  Committee  then  reviews  the  President  and  Chief  Executive   Officer's
recommendations  for  executive  officers'  total  compensation  and makes final
decisions on pay for each  executive  officer  based on the  President and Chief
Executive  Officer's  summary of the  performance  evaluations  and on the other
criteria  and survey  data  described  above.  In this  process,  the  Committee
consults extensively with Data I/O's President and Chief Executive Officer.

The Committee meets annually  without the President and Chief Executive  Officer
to evaluate his performance and to develop a recommendation for his compensation
for the coming year. In addition to reviewing Data I/O's  financial  performance
for the  prior  year,  the  Committee  reviews  compensation  surveys  for chief
executive  officers in similar  companies and the President and Chief  Executive
Officer's individual performance,  including development and execution of short-
and long-term  strategic  objectives,  Data I/O revenue and  profitability,  and
employee  morale,  the achievement of which is expected to increase  shareholder
value.  The Committee then approves base salary and MICP percentage  changes for
all executive officers.

The Committee  determined the compensation  package,  including  salary,  bonus,
stock option  grants,  and other  benefits for Frederick R. Hume,  President and
Chief  Executive   Officer,   based  on  the   Committee's   perception  of  his
qualifications for the position, his ability to affect future shareholder value,
compensation surveys (as noted above under "Annual Base Salary Structure"),  and
the competitive conditions in the market.

Data I/O has entered into agreements (the "Severance  Agreements")  with certain
executive  officers  whereby  such  individuals  would be  entitled  to  receive
payments if they are terminated  without cause or resign with good reason within
specified periods following the occurrence of certain events deemed to involve a
change in control of Data I/O. These Severance Agreements expired on January 30,
2004, but may be extended by the Board of Directors.  See "Change in Control and
Severance  Arrangements."  Under the Omnibus Budget  Reconciliation Act of 1993,
the federal income tax deduction for certain types of  compensation  paid to the
chief  executive  officer and the four other most highly  compensated  executive
officers of  publicly  held  companies  is limited to $1 million per officer per
year unless such compensation meets certain requirements. The Committee is aware
of this  limitation  and believes that no  compensation  paid by Data I/O during
2003 will  exceed the $1 million  limitation,  except  possibly a portion of the
sums payable pursuant to the Severance Agreements, if paid.

Respectfully submitted,

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Glen F. Ceiley
Daniel A. DiLeo
Paul A. Gary

March 22, 2004


                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table shows  compensation  paid by Data I/O for services  rendered
during  years  2003,  2002 and  2001 to all  persons  who  served  as the  Chief
Executive  Officer  in 2003 and the  other  most  highly  compensated  executive
officer of Data I/O at  December  31,  2003,  whose  salary  and bonus  exceeded
$100,000 in 2003.




                                                                          Long-Term
                                                                         Compensation
                                             Annual Compensation            Awards
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Securities
              Name                                                        Underlying         All
              and                                                          Options/         Other
           Principal                       Salary         Bonus              SARs         Compensation
            Position              Year      ($)          ($) (1)           (#) (2)         ($) (3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           
Frederick R. Hume                 2003      250,000          74,148             50,000         9,806
President/                        2002      250,000               0             50,000        10,322
Chief Executive Officer           2001      250,000               0                  0         8,622


Joel S. Hatlen                    2003      157,500          54,113             25,000         8,114
Vice President /                  2002      157,500               0             25,000         7,315
Chief Financial Officer /         2001      157,500               0                  0         6,711
Secretary / Treasurer

---------------------------------
(1)  Represents  amounts  earned  under  MICP in 2003 and  paid in  2004,  and a
     discretionary bonus of $20,000 that was authorized and paid in March 2003.
(2)  All options  granted to  executive  officers  are granted in tandem with an
     equal number of SARs.  SARs are only  exercisable  upon the  occurrence  of
     certain  events leading to a change in the control of Data I/O. See "Change
     in Control and Severance Arrangements."
(3)  These amounts  represent Data I/O's  contributions to Data I/O's 401K Plan,
     payment for excess  unused  benefit  credits,  and its payment of term life
     insurance premiums on behalf of the executive.



                             OPTION/SAR GRANTS TABLE
                       Option/SAR Grants in the Last Year

The following table sets forth certain information regarding stock option grants
to Data  I/O's  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Data  I/O's  other  most  highly
compensated executive officer during the year ended December 31, 2003.




                           Number of       Percent                                  Potential Realizable Value
                           Securities      of Total                                 at Assumed Annual Rates of
                           Underlying    Options/SARs     Exercise                   Stock Price Appreciation
                          Options/SARs    Granted to         or                        for Option Term (4)
                                                                                   -----------------------------
                            Granted       Employees      Base Price    Expiration    0%       5%        10%
          Name              (#) (1)        in Year     ($/Sh) (2)(3)      Date       ($)      ($)       ($)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   
Frederick R. Hume          50,000 (5)          16.69%      1.00         04/17/09         0     17,005    38,578

Joel S. Hatlen             25,000  (5)          8.35%      1.00         04/17/09         0      8,502    19,289


(1)  An equal  number of SARs are  granted  in tandem  with  options  granted to
     executive  officers.  SARs are  exercisable  only  upon the  occurrence  of
     certain  events leading to a change in the control of Data I/O. See "Change
     in Control and Severance Arrangements."
(2)  Under  the  terms of the 1986  Plan and the  2000  Plan,  the  Compensation
     Committee retains  discretion,  subject to plan limits, to modify the terms
     of and to reprice outstanding options.
(3)  The exercise price may be paid by delivery of already owned shares, subject
     to certain conditions.
(4)  Potential  realizable  value is based on an assumption that the stock price
     of the  Common  Stock  appreciates  at the annual  rate  shown  (compounded
     annually)  from the date of grant until the end of the option  term.  These
     numbers are calculated  based on SEC  requirements  and do not reflect Data
     I/O's estimate of future stock price growth.
(5)  All new options granted in 2003 become exercisable  commencing three months
     after grant date,  with 6.25% of the shares  becoming  exercisable  at that
     time and an additional  6.25% of the shares  becoming  exercisable  on each
     successive quarter after the grant date, with full vesting occurring on the
     fourth anniversary of such date. Options which have been outstanding for at
     least six months will become  exercisable  in full upon the  occurrence  of
     certain  events  leading to a change in control of Data I/O. See "Change in
     Control and Severance Arrangements." Options expire six years from the date
     of grant,  subject to earlier  termination if the optionee's  employment is
     terminated.


             OPTIONS/SAR EXERCISES AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES TABLE
  Aggregated Options/SAR Exercises in Last Year and Year-End Option/SAR Values

The following table sets forth certain  information  regarding  option exercises
and year-end option values for Data I/O's Chief Executive Officer and Data I/O's
other most highly compensated officer during the year ended December 31, 2003.




                                                           # of Securities Underlying         Value of Unexercised
                                  Shares                         Options/SARs at           In-the-Money Options/SARs
                                Acquired on     Value           December 31, 2003             at December 31, 2003
                                 Exercise     Realized               (#) (2)                        ($) (3)
                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
             Name                   (#)        ($) (1)     Exercisable / Unexercisable     Exercisable / Unexercisable

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           
Frederick R. Hume                    0            0            225,000 / 75,000                415,313 / 180,188

Joel S. Hatlen                       0            0            104,000 / 40,000                 79,135 /  90,271


(1)  Market value of underlying  securities at exercise date, minus the exercise
     or base price of in-the-money options/SARs.
(2)  Future  exercisability is subject to vesting and the optionee  remaining in
     the employment of Data I/O. In addition,  all options are granted in tandem
     with an equal number of SARs. SARs are only exercisable upon the occurrence
     of  certain  events  leading to a change in the  control  of Data I/O.  See
     "Change in Control and Severance Arrangements."
(3)  This value is  calculated  by  multiplying  the market  value of the Common
     Stock at December 31, 2003, which was $3.54 as quoted on the NASDAQ Market,
     less the exercise or base price by the number of in-the-money  options/SARs
     held.  If the  number  is zero,  the  aggregate  value of the  options  are
     out-of-the-money.


                      EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table gives  information about Data I/O's Common Stock that may be
issued upon the exercise of options and rights under all of Data I/O's  existing
equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2003.



                                                                                              (c) Number of securities
                                           (a) Number of                 (b)                   remaining available for
                                     securities to be issued       Weighted-average             future issuance under
                                       upon the exercise of       exercise price of           equity compensation plans
                                       outstanding options,          outstanding                (excluding securities
                                       warrants and rights        options, warrants           reflected in column (a))
                                                                      and rights
                                    -------------------------    -----------------------     ----------------------------
                                                                                     
Equity      compensation     plans
approved by the  security  holders
(1) (3)                                    1,347,413                     $2.24                         665,118

Equity   compensation   plans  not
approved by the  security  holders
(2)                                          10,000                      $5.19                            0


-----------------------------------
(1)  Represents  shares of Data I/O's Common Stock issuable pursuant to our 2000
     Plan,  1986 Plan,  1992  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan,  and Director Fee
     Plan.
(2)  Director  option grant  represents a one-time  option grant to Directors in
     May  1998  prior  to  shareholder  approval  of  an  option  plan  covering
     Directors.
(3)  Stock Appreciation  Rights ("SAR")Plan  provides that directors,  executive
     officers  or holders of 10% or more of Data I/O's  Common  Stock have a SAR
     with respect to each exercisable  option.  While the plan has been approved
     by the  security  holders,  no amounts  are  included  in columns a, b or c
     relating to the SAR.



                      SHAREHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH

Shown below is a line-graph  comparing  cumulative total  shareholder  return on
Data I/O Common  Stock for each of the last five years  against  the  cumulative
total return for the Russell 2000 Index, the S & P High Tech Composite,  and the
S&P  Information   Technology  Sector.   This  cumulative  return  includes  the
reinvestment of cash dividends.




                                        COMPARATIVE FIVE-YEAR TOTAL RETURNS (1)
                             Data I/O Corporation, Russell 2000, S & P High Tech Composite,
                                        S & P Information Technology Sector(2)
                             (Performance results as of year end through December 31, 2003)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1998       1999        2000         2001          2002          2003
                                                                                         
DAIO                                       $100       $160        $116         $90           $53           $206
Russell 2000                               $100       $120        $117         $118          $93           $42
S & P High Tech Composite                  $100       $175        $105         $81
S & P Information Technology Sector        $100       $179        $106         $78           $49           $23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(1)  Assumes $100  invested at the close of trading on December 31, 1998 in Data
     I/O  Common  Stock,  in the  Russell  2000  Index,  in the S & P High  Tech
     Composite, and in the S & P Information Technology Sector. Cumulative total
     return assumes reinvestment of dividends.
(2)  Standard and Poors is no longer  publishing  the S & P High Tech  Composite
     index. The classifications  have been changed to business sectors.  Because
     the index is no  longer  being  published,  Data I/O has  chosen  the S & P
     Information Technology Sector as the appropriate comparison for Data I/O.

                  CHANGE IN CONTROL AND SEVERANCE ARRANGEMENTS

Options reported in the Option/SAR compensatory tables appearing above have been
granted  pursuant to the Plans.  Historically,  most options  granted  under the
Plans have been  granted  subject to a vesting  schedule of either 25% per year,
12.5% per quarter, or 6.25% per quarter. However, the Plans provide that options
which have been  outstanding for at least six months will become  exercisable in
full for the periods indicated: (i) for a period of 45 days beginning on the day
on which any person or group (with certain  exceptions)  becomes the  beneficial
owner of 25% or more of the  combined  voting  power of Data  I/O's  outstanding
securities,  unless such accumulation is previously  approved by a disinterested
majority of the Plan's administrators;  (ii) beginning on the date that a tender
or exchange offer by any person (with certain  exceptions) is first published or
sent or given,  and continuing  for so long as such offer remains open,  unless,
upon  consummation  thereof,  such person would be the beneficial  owner of less
than 30% of the shares of Common  Stock then  outstanding,  unless  such  tender
offer is approved by a  disinterested  majority  of the Board of  Directors;  or
(iii)  immediately  prior  to  consummation  of (a) any  merger,  consolidation,
reorganization  or other  transaction  pursuant  to which  persons  who hold the
outstanding Common Stock immediately prior to the transaction have less than 40%
of the combined voting power of the surviving  entity;  or (b) any sale,  lease,
exchange or other  transfer not in the ordinary  course of all or  substantially
all of Data I/O's assets. With any of the foregoing transactions,  Data I/O will
give each option holder notice 20 days prior to the proposed  consummation date,
and each option  holder will then be entitled to exercise  their options in full
or part at any time  prior  to  consummation  of such  transaction.  A  holder's
exercise  of  those  options  that  become  vested  only  as a  result  of  such
acceleration will be contingent upon consummation of such transaction.

In 1983,  Data I/O  adopted a SAR Plan which  allows the Board of  Directors  to
grant to each director,  executive officer or holder of 10% or more of the stock
of Data I/O a SAR with respect to certain  options  granted to these parties.  A
SAR has been granted in tandem with each option granted to an executive  officer
of Data I/O.  SARs  granted  which  have been held for at least six  months  are
exercisable  for a period of 20 days  following the  occurrence of either of the
following events: (i) the close of business on the day that a tender or exchange
offer by any person  (with  certain  exceptions)  is first  published or sent or
given if, upon consummation  thereof,  such person would be the beneficial owner
of 30% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding;  or (ii) approval
by the shareholders of Data I/O (or, if later, approval by the shareholders of a
third party) of any merger,  consolidation,  reorganization or other transaction
providing  for the  conversion  or exchange of more than 50% of the  outstanding
shares of Data I/Os Common Stock into  securities of a third party,  or cash, or
property, or a combination of any of the foregoing.

Data I/O entered into severance  agreements  (the "Severance  Agreements")  with
each of the following executive officers on the following dates: Joel S. Hatlen,
Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer in July
1998 and Frederick R. Hume,  President and Chief  Executive  Officer in February
1999,  the term of these  agreements  were  extended  on January  31, 2002 for a
period of 2 years from that date. These Severance  Agreements expired on January
30, 2004, but these  agreements may be extended again by the Board of Directors.
The respective  agreements with Messrs.  Hatlen and Hume provided for a lump sum
payment to the officer upon termination of the officer's  employment by Data I/O
without  cause or by the officer for "good  reason" (as defined in the Severance
Agreements)  90 days prior and within one year  following a change of control of
Data I/O.  The  amount of the lump sum  payment  is equal to a  multiple  of the
officer's  base  salary  at the  time of  termination,  plus the  average  bonus
received  during  the last three  full  years the  officer  served in his or her
present  position (the  "base").  The guideline for the multiple for each of the
officers  is one  times  the  base.  The  size  of the  multiple  declines  on a
straight-line  basis  throughout  the  specified  period,  following a change in
control,  except  that the  multiple  is never  less than  one-half.  The amount
payable under the Severance Agreements for Messrs. Hatlen and Hume is subject to
reduction if the aggregate  present value of all payments received in connection
with a change in control  would  exceed  three times the  officer's  "annualized
includible  compensation",  as defined in Section 280G of the  Internal  Revenue
Code, for the executive officer's most recent five taxable years.

In  connection  with  execution of the Severance  Agreements,  Data I/O required
Messrs. Hatlen and Hume to sign a confidentiality and non-competition agreement,
which includes,  among other things, a restriction  against  competing with Data
I/O or  soliciting  employees  from  Data I/O for a  one-year  period  following
termination if the officer receives a payment under a Severance  Agreement.  The
Board of  Directors  believes  that the terms and  conditions  of the  Severance
Agreements are in the best interest of Data I/O because the Severance Agreements
will enable the executive officers to continue to focus on activities  providing
for the maximum long-term value to Data I/O's shareholders, even when faced with
the possible  change of control of Data I/O or termination of their  employment.
In addition,  each of the executive  officers named in the Summary  Compensation
Table  have  signed  Data I/O's form of offer  letter  and have  entered  into a
Confidentiality   and   Intellectual    Property   Assignment   Agreement   (the
"Confidentiality  Agreement")  with Data I/O.  These offer  letters  specify the
terms of  employment,  including  annual  base pay,  MICP  participation,  stock
options  provided,  if any, and that employment is at will. The  Confidentiality
Agreements  also  provide  that  employment  is  at  will.  The  Confidentiality
Agreements also provide that executive  officers shall keep certain  information
confidential during and after employment and shall not solicit employees of Data
I/O for one year following termination of their employment.

                       PROPOSAL 2: AMENDMENT TO 2000 PLAN

At the Annual Meeting,  the shareholders of Data I/O will be asked to approve an
amendment  to the 2000 Plan,  which,  if approved,  will  increase the number of
shares of Common Stock  available for grant under the 2000 Plan by an additional
300,000 shares,  to an aggregate of 1,883,558  shares,  the fair market value of
such  securities is $5,688,345 as of March 22, 2004. As of March 22, 2004,  Data
I/O has outstanding options with respect to 1,320,085 shares of Common Stock and
263,473  shares of Common Stock  available for grants.  Approval of the proposed
increase  will also be deemed a  ratification  of the terms of the 2000 Plan, as
amended.

The  Board  of  Directors  believes  that  the  2000  Plan  has  contributed  to
strengthening the incentive of participating employees to achieve the objectives
of Data I/O and its  shareholders by encouraging  employees to acquire a greater
proprietary  interest  in  Data  I/O.  The  Board  of  Directors  believes  that
additional  shares must be  reserved  for use under the 2000 Plan to enable Data
I/O to attract and retain key  employees  through the granting of options  under
the 2000 Plan. The proposed  increase in the number of shares reserved under the
2000 Plan is not required or intended to cover awards  previously made under the
2000 Plan. As such,  no new plan benefits have been granted to date,  and future
awards under the 2000 Plan are not yet determinable.

The  affirmative  vote of at least a  majority  of the  shares of  Common  Stock
present  in  person  or  represented  by proxy at the 2004  Annual  Meeting  and
entitled to vote on the proposal is required  for  approval of the  amendment to
the 2000 Plan.  The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote FOR  approval of the
proposed  amendment to the 2000 Plan.  Unless  instructed  otherwise,  it is the
intention of the persons named in the accompanying  form of proxy to vote shares
represented  by  properly  executed  proxies  in favor  of the  above-referenced
amendment to the 2000 Plan.

Description of the 2000 Plan

The  following  description  of the 2000 Plan is  qualified  in its  entirety by
reference  to the full text of such Plan,  a copy of which is  attached  to this
Proxy  Statement  as  Appendix A. The purpose of the 2000 Plan is to enhance the
long-term shareholder value of Data I/O by offering  opportunities to employees,
persons to whom offers of employment  have been extended,  directors,  officers,
consultants,  agents,  advisors and independent  contractors of Data I/O and its
subsidiaries  to participate in Data I/O's growth and success,  and to encourage
them to remain in the  service of Data I/O and its  subsidiaries  and to acquire
and maintain  stock  ownership  in Data I/O.  The 2000 Plan may be  administered
either by the Board of Directors or a committee or  committees  appointed by (in
either case,  the  "Committee"),  and  consisting of two or more members of, the
Board of Directors.  The Committee  will have broad  discretion to determine the
amount and type of awards and terms and  conditions  of the  awards.  Individual
grants will generally be based on a person's present and potential  contribution
to Data I/O.

As  of  March  22,  2004,  Data  I/O  had  approximately  127  employees  and  6
non-employee  directors who would be eligible to  participate  in the 2000 Plan.
Consultants,  agents,  advisors,  and independent  contractors could be eligible
under the 2000 Plan; however,  Data I/O has no outstanding grants to this group.
Because the grant of awards is based upon a determination  made by the Committee
after a consideration  of various  factors,  Data I/O currently cannot determine
the nature  and  amount of any awards  that will be granted in the future to any
eligible  individual or group of  individuals.  However,  the maximum  number of
shares that can be granted  under the 2000 Plan during any calendar  year to any
executive officer whose compensation is required to be disclosed pursuant to the
rules and  regulations  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
(generally,  the  chief  executive  officer  and  the  four  other  most  highly
compensated  executive  officers)  is  200,000,  except  that  Data I/O may make
additional  one-time grants to newly hired  participants of up to 100,000 shares
per such  participant.  In  addition,  the maximum  number of shares that can be
granted to a  non-employee  director  of Data I/O during  any  calendar  year is
limited to 100,000.  Data I/O  believes  that with these  limitations  and other
provisions of the 2000 Plan,  options  granted under the 2000 Plan will generate
"qualified performance-based  compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m)
of the  Internal  Revenue  Code  and  will,  therefore,  not be  subject  to the
$1,000,000  cap on  deductibility  for  federal  income tax  purposes of certain
compensation  payments in excess of $1,000,000.  See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences" below.

Awards may be granted in the form of incentive stock options ("ISOs") within the
meaning of Section 422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the
"Code"),  nonqualified  stock options ("NQOs") (each ISO or NQO, an "Option" and
collectively, "Options"), stock appreciation rights, stock awards in the form of
restricted stock ("Restricted  Stock"), or other arrangements  determined by the
Committee.  Any award may be granted either alone or in tandem with other awards
granted under the 2000 Plan.  The option price of ISOs shall be as determined by
the  Committee,  but shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the
Common  Stock on the grant date.  The option  price of NQOs may be less than the
fair market  value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant.  The  Committee
may  condition  the  grant  of  the  award  upon  the  attainment  of  specified
performance  goals  or  other  criteria,  which  need  not be the  same  for all
participants.  No ISOs may be  granted  under  the 2000 Plan on or after May 19,
2010, but ISOs outstanding under the 2000 Plan may extend beyond that date.

Options.  Options  granted under the 2000 Plan may be ISOs or NQOs. The exercise
price of ISOs may not be less than the fair market  value of the shares  subject
to the ISO on the date of grant. The term of any ISO granted under the 2000 Plan
may not  exceed ten  years.  In  addition,  ISOs are  subject  to certain  other
limitations  in order to take advantage of the favorable U.S. tax treatment that
may be available for ISOs.

Restricted Stock.  Restricted Stock awards consist of non-transferable shares of
Common  Stock of Data I/O which may be  subject to a right of  purchase  by Data
I/O. The Committee may provide for the lapse of the transfer restrictions over a
period of time,  or may  accelerate or waive such  restrictions,  in whole or in
part,  based  on  service,  performance  or  other  criteria  determined  by the
Committee.

Stock  Appreciation  Rights. A stock appreciation right will give the holder the
right to receive an  appreciation  distribution in an amount equal to the excess
of the fair market value of the number of shares of Common Stock  covered by the
right over the exercise price per share subject to the right. Stock appreciation
rights may be granted separately or in tandem with a related Option. Payment may
be made in a combination  of shares of Common Stock or in cash, as determined by
the Committee.

The  consideration  payable upon  issuance or exercise of an award and any taxes
related  to an award  must  generally  be paid in cash or  check.  However,  the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may, either at the time the Option is granted
or at any time before it is  exercised  and subject to such  limitations  as the
Committee may determine, authorize payment by the tender of Common Stock already
owned by the  participant  for at least six months having a fair market value on
the day prior to the exercise date equal to the aggregate Option exercise price,
by delivery of a promissory  note, by delivery of a properly  executed  exercise
notice, together with irrevocable instruction (i) to a third-party designated by
Data I/O to deliver to Data I/O the amount of sale or loan  proceeds  to pay the
exercise price and  withholding  tax obligations and (ii) to Data I/O to deliver
the  certificates  for  such  shares  to  the  third-party,  or  by  such  other
consideration  as the Committee may permit.  In addition,  to assist a holder of
award  (including  a  holder  who is an  officer  or  director  of Data  I/O) in
acquiring  shares of Common Stock  pursuant to an award  granted  under the 2000
Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may authorize,  either at the grant
date or at any time  before the  acquisition  of Common  Stock  pursuant  to the
award,  the  extension  of a loan to the holder by Data I/O,  the payment by the
holder of the purchase  price, if any, of the Common Stock in  installments,  or
the guarantee by Data I/O of a loan obtained by the grantee from a  third-party.
Awards  generally  may be  exercised  at any  time  within  three  months  after
termination of a participant's  employment by, or consulting  relationship with,
Data  I/O  (but,  only to the  extent  exercisable  or  payable  at the  time of
termination).  However,  if  termination  is due to the  participant's  death or
disability,  the  award  generally  may be  exercised  for one  year.  Except as
authorized  by  the  Committee,  no  award  shall  be  assignable  or  otherwise
transferable  by a participant  other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.

The Committee may adjust the performance  goals and  measurements  applicable to
awards.  The  Committee  also  may  waive  in  whole  or  in  part  any  or  all
restrictions,  conditions,  vesting  or  forfeiture  with  respect  to any award
granted  under  the 2000  Plan.  The  Board of  Directors  may  amend,  alter or
discontinue the 2000 Plan or any award at any time, except that the consent of a
participant is required if the  participant's  rights under an outstanding award
would be impaired.  In addition,  the  shareholders of Data I/O must approve any
amendment, alteration or discontinuance of the 2000 Plan that would (i) increase
the total number of shares  reserved  under the 2000 Plan,  (ii) with respect to
provisions  solely as they relate to ISOs,  to the extent  required for the 2000
Plan to comply  with  Section 422 of the Code,  (iii) to the extent  required by
other applicable laws, rules or regulations or (iv) to the extent that the Board
of Directors otherwise concludes that shareholder approval is advisable.

The  2000  Plan   constitutes  an  unfunded  plan  for  incentive  and  deferred
compensation.  Data I/O is not required to create trusts or arrangements to meet
its obligations under the 2000 Plan to deliver stock or make payments.

In the event of a "change in  control" of Data I/O, as defined in the 2000 Plan,
in which the outstanding options do not remain outstanding or are not assumed by
the  surviving  entity or  replaced  with  comparable  options,  the  vesting of
outstanding  "qualifying" awards under the 2000 Plan will, unless the applicable
agreement  with  respect  to the award or the  Committee  determines  otherwise,
subject to certain  limitations,  be accelerated in full. If outstanding options
remain  outstanding  after a change of control or are  assumed by the  surviving
entity or replaced with comparable options, subject to certain limitations,  the
vesting of outstanding "qualifying" options will be accelerated to the extent of
25% of the unvested portion thereof and the vesting of outstanding  "qualifying"
restricted stock awards will be accelerated to the extent of 25% of the unvested
portion thereof.  Further, if the holder of any "qualifying" award which remains
outstanding  or is  assumed  by the  surviving  entity  in a change  of  control
transaction  is  terminated  involuntarily  within  180  days of the  change  of
control, the vesting of all options and other awards held by such person will be
accelerated in full. A "qualifying"  award is defined as an option or award that
has been held for at least 180 days as of the  change of  control.  A "change in
control"  is  defined to include  (i) a merger or  consolidation  of Data I/O in
which  more  than  50% of the  voting  power  of Data  I/O's  outstanding  stock
outstanding  after the transaction is owned by persons who are not  shareholders
immediately prior to such  transaction,  and (ii) the sale or transfer of all or
substantially all of Data I/O's assets.

Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences

THE FOLLOWING  SUMMARY OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES IS BASED UPON EXISTING
STATUTES,  REGULATIONS AND  INTERPRETATIONS  THEREOF.  THE APPLICABLE  RULES ARE
COMPLEX,  AND INCOME TAX  CONSEQUENCES  MAY VARY  DEPENDING  UPON THE PARTICULAR
CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH PLAN PARTICIPANT.  THIS PROXY STATEMENT  DESCRIBES FEDERAL
INCOME  TAX  CONSEQUENCES  OF  GENERAL  APPLICABILITY,  BUT DOES NOT  PURPORT TO
DESCRIBE  PARTICULAR  CONSEQUENCES  TO  EACH  INDIVIDUAL  PLAN  PARTICIPANT,  OR
FOREIGN,  STATE OR LOCAL  INCOME TAX  CONSEQUENCES,  WHICH MAY  DIFFER  FROM THE
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES.

Incentive Stock Options

Awards and Exercise of Options. ISOs are intended to constitute "incentive stock
options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. ISOs may be granted only
to employees  of Data I/O  (including  directors  who are also  employees).  The
recipient of an Option (the "Optionee")  does not recognize  taxable income upon
either the grant or exercise of an ISO.  However,  the excess of the fair market
value of the shares  purchased upon exercise over the Option exercise price (the
"Option  Spread") is includable in the Optionee's  "alternative  minimum taxable
income" ("AMTI")  for  purposes of the  alternative  minimum  tax  ("AMT").  The
Option Spread is generally measured on the date of exercise and is includable in
AMTI in the year of exercise. Special rules regarding the time of AMTI inclusion
may apply for shares subject to a "substantial  risk of forfeiture"  (including,
in the case of each  person  subject to the  reporting  requirements  of Section
16(b) of the Exchange  Act).  In addition,  when stock is acquired  subject to a
"substantial risk of forfeiture",  an Optionee's  holding period for purposes of
determining whether any capital gain or loss on sale is long-term will generally
not begin until the  restriction  lapses or the Optionee files an election under
Section 83(b) of the Code (a "Section 83(b) Election").

Sale of Option Shares.  If an Optionee holds the shares  purchased  under an ISO
for at least two years  from the date the ISO was  granted  and for at least one
year from the date such shares where transferred to the Optionee,  any gain from
a sale of the shares  other than to Data I/O should be taxable as capital  gain.
Under these circumstances,  Data I/O would not be entitled to a tax deduction at
the time the ISO was exercised or at the time the stock was sold. If an Optionee
were to  dispose  of stock  acquired  pursuant  to an ISO  before the end of the
required holding periods (a  "Disqualifying  Disposition"),  the amount by which
the market  value of the stock at the time the ISO was  exercised  exceeded  the
exercise  price (or, if less,  the amount of gain realized on the sale) would be
taxable as ordinary  income,  and Data I/O would be entitled to a  corresponding
tax deduction.  Such income is subject to information reporting requirements and
may become  subject to  withholding.  Gain from a  Disqualifying  Disposition in
excess of the amount  required to be  recognized  as ordinary  income is capital
gain.  Optionees  are  required  to  notify  Data I/O  promptly  after  making a
Disqualifying  Disposition.  If the stock is sold to Data I/O  rather  than to a
third party,  the sale may not produce capital gain or loss. A sale of shares to
Data I/O will constitute a redemption of such shares,  which could be taxable as
a dividend unless the redemption is "not  essentially  equivalent to a dividend"
within the meaning of the Code.

Exercise With Stock.  If an Optionee pays for ISO shares with shares of Data I/O
acquired under an ISO or a qualified  employee  stock purchase plan  ("Statutory
Option  Stock"),  the  tender of shares is a  Disqualifying  Disposition  of the
Statutory  Option Stock if the above  described  (or other  applicable)  holding
periods respecting those shares have not been satisfied.  If the holding periods
with respect to the Statutory Option Stock are satisfied, or the shares were not
acquired under a statutory  stock option of Data I/O, then any  appreciation  in
value of the surrendered shares is not taxable upon surrender. Special basis and
holding period rules apply where  previously-owned  stock is used to exercise an
ISO.

Nonqualified Stock Options

Awards and Exercise of Options.  An Optionee is not taxable upon the award of an
NQO. Federal income tax consequences  upon exercise will depend upon whether the
shares thereby  acquired are subject to a "substantial  risk of forfeiture".  If
the shares are not subject to a "substantial risk of forfeiture", or if they are
so restricted  and the Optionee  files a Section 83(b)  Election with respect to
the  shares,  the  Optionee  will have  ordinary  income at the time of exercise
measured by the Option Spread on the exercise  date. The Optionee's tax basis in
the shares  will be their fair  market  value on the date of  exercise,  and the
holding  period for purposes of  determining  whether  capital gain or loss upon
sale is long- or  short-term  also will  begin on that  date.  If the shares are
subject to a "substantial  risk of forfeiture"  and no Section 83(b) Election is
filed,  the Optionee  will not be taxable upon  exercise,  but instead will have
ordinary  income on the date the stock is no longer  subject  to a  "substantial
risk of  forfeiture",  in an amount equal to the  difference  between the amount
paid for the shares  under the Option and their fair market value as of the date
of lapse; in addition,  the Optionee's  holding period will begin on the date of
lapse.

Whether or not the shares are subject to a "substantial risk of forfeiture", the
amount of ordinary income taxable to an Optionee who was an employee at the time
of grant constitutes "supplemental wages" subject to a withholding of income and
employment  taxes by Data I/O, and Data I/O receives a corresponding  income tax
deduction.

Sale of Option  Shares.  Upon sale,  other than to Data I/O, of shares  acquired
under a NQO, an Optionee  generally will  recognize  capital gain or loss to the
extent of the difference  between the sale price and the Optionee's tax basis in
the  shares,  which will be  long-term  gain or loss if the  employee's  holding
period in the  shares  is more  than one year.  If the stock is sold to Data I/O
rather than to a third party,  the sale may not produce  capital gain or loss. A
sale of shares to Data I/O will  constitute a redemption  of such shares,  which
could be  taxable  as a  dividend  unless  the  redemption  is "not  essentially
equivalent to a dividend" within the meaning of the Code.

Exercise With Stock.  If an Optionee  tenders Common Stock (other than Statutory
Option Stock - see above) to pay all or part of the exercise price of a NQO, the
Optionee  will not have a taxable  gain or  deductible  loss on the  surrendered
shares.  Instead,  shares  acquired upon exercise that are equal in value to the
fair market  value of the shares  surrendered  in payment are treated as if they
had been  substituted  for the  surrendered  shares,  taking as their  basis and
holding  period  the basis  and  holding  period  that the  Optionee  had in the
surrendered  shares.  The additional shares are treated as newly acquired with a
zero basis.

If the  surrendered  shares are Statutory  Option Stock as described above under
"Incentive Stock Options",  with respect to which the applicable  holding period
requirements for favorable income tax treatment have not expired, then the newly
acquired  shares  substituted  for the  Statutory  Option  Shares  should remain
subject to the federal income tax rules  governing the surrendered  shares,  but
the  surrender  should  not  constitute  a  Disqualifying   Disposition  of  the
surrendered stock.

        PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OF THE CONTINUED APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

The Board of  Directors  requests  that the  shareholders  ratify the  continued
appointment  of Grant Thornton LLP to serve as Data I/O's  independent  auditors
for calendar year 2004. Grant Thornton LLP examined the  consolidated  financial
statements of Data I/O for the year ended December 31, 2003.  Representatives of
Grant  Thornton LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to make a statement if
they desire to do so and to respond to questions by shareholders.

                                 OTHER BUSINESS

As of the  date of this  Proxy  Statement,  Data I/O is not  aware of any  other
business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.  If any other business  calling
for a vote of the shareholders is properly presented at the meeting, the holders
of the proxies  will vote or refrain from voting in  accordance  with their best
judgment.

                  SHAREHOLDER NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR THE
                       2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Data I/O's Bylaws provide that advance notice of nominations for the election of
directors  at a meeting  of  shareholders  must be  delivered  to or mailed  and
received by Data I/O on or before by February  19, 2005 in the case of an annual
meeting of shareholders, and in the case of a special meeting of shareholders to
elect  directors,  the close of business on the 10th day  following  the date on
which  notice of such  meeting is first given to  shareholders.  The Bylaws also
provide that advance  notice of proposals to be brought before an Annual Meeting
by a  shareholder  must be submitted  in writing and  delivered to or mailed and
received  by Data I/O not later than 90 days prior to the date one year from the
date immediately preceding the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

To qualify as an "eligible"  shareholder,  a shareholder must have been a record
or  beneficial  owner of at least one  percent  (1%) of Data  I/O's  outstanding
Common  Stock,  or  shares  of Common  Stock  having a market  value of at least
$2,000,  for a period of at least one (1) year prior to submitting the proposal,
and the  shareholder  must continue to hold the shares through the date on which
the meeting is held.

Each notice of a nomination or proposal of business  must  contain,  among other
things:  (i) the name and  address of the  shareholder  who  intends to make the
nomination or proposal;  (ii) a representation  that the shareholder is a holder
of record of stock of Data I/O  entitled to vote at such  meeting and intends to
appear in person or by proxy at the  meeting to  nominate  the person or persons
specified  in the notice or to vote at the  meeting  for the  proposal;  (iii) a
description of all  arrangements or  understandings  between the shareholder and
each  nominee and any other  person or persons  (naming  such person or persons)
pursuant  to  which  the  nomination  or  nominations  are  to be  made  by  the
shareholder and any material  interest of such shareholder in any proposal to be
submitted to the meeting;  (iv) such other information regarding each nominee or
proposal as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant
to the proxy  rules of the SEC;  and (v) with  respect to the  nominations,  the
consent of each nominee to serve as a director of Data I/O if elected.

A copy of the full text of the  provisions  of Data I/O's  Bylaws  dealing  with
shareholder  nominations  and  proposals is available to  shareholders  from the
Secretary of Data I/O upon written request.

SEC rules establish a deadline for submission of shareholder  proposals that are
not  intended  to be  included in Data I/O's  proxy  statement  with  respect to
discretionary voting (the "Discretionary Vote Deadline"). The Discretionary Vote
Deadline  for the 2005 Annual  Meeting is February 19,  2005.  If a  shareholder
gives notice of such a proposal  after the  Discretionary  Vote  Deadline,  Data
I/O's proxy holders will be allowed to use their discretionary  voting authority
to vote against the  shareholder  proposal when and if the proposal is raised at
the 2005 Annual Meeting.

Shareholders  who intend to have a proposal  considered  for  inclusion  in Data
I/O's proxy  materials for  presentation  at the 2005 Annual Meeting must submit
the proposal to Data I/O no later than December 2, 2004. Shareholders who intend
to present a proposal  at the 2004  Annual  Meeting  without  inclusion  of such
proposal in Data I/O's proxy  materials  are required to provide  notice of such
proposal to Data I/O no later than  February  19,  2005.  Data I/O  reserves the
right to reject,  rule out of order, or take appropriate  action with respect to
any proposal that does not comply with these and other applicable  requirements,
but only after Data I/O has notified the  shareholder(s)  who have submitted the
proposal of the problem and such  shareholder(s) have failed to correct it. This
obligation  to  notify  the  appropriate  shareholder(s)  does not  apply to the
failure to submit such proposal prior to the deadlines discussed above.

                             SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

The  proxy  accompanying  this  Proxy  Statement  is  solicited  by the Board of
Directors.   Proxies  may  be  solicited  by  officers,  directors  and  regular
supervisory  and executive  employees of Data I/O, none of whom will receive any
additional  compensation for their services. In addition, Data I/O may engage an
outside proxy  solicitation firm to render proxy  solicitation  services and, if
so,  will pay a fee for such  services.  Solicitations  of  proxies  may be made
personally,  or by mail,  telephone,  telegraph or messenger.  Data I/O will pay
persons  holding  shares  of  Common  Stock  in their  names or in the  names of
nominees,  but not owning such shares  beneficially,  such as brokerage  houses,
banks and other fiduciaries,  for the expense of forwarding soliciting materials
to their  principals.  All costs of solicitation of proxies will be paid by Data
I/O.
                                    By Order of the Board of Directors

                                    Frederick R. Hume
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer
Redmond, Washington
April 2, 2004



                                                                      Appendix A

                              DATA I/O CORPORATION
                     2000 STOCK COMPENSATION INCENTIVE PLAN

1. PURPOSES

   1.1   The  purpose  of the  Data  I/O  Corporation  2000  Stock  Compensation
Incentive  Plan (the "Plan") is to enhance the  long-term  shareholder  value of
Data I/O Corporation,  a Washington  corporation  (the  "Company"),  by offering
opportunities  to  employees,  persons to whom  offers of  employment  have been
extended,  directors,  officers,  consultants,  agents, advisors and independent
contractors  of Data I/O and its  Subsidiaries  (as  defined  in  Section  2) to
participate in Data I/O's growth and success, and to encourage them to remain in
the service of Data I/O and its  Subsidiaries  and to acquire and maintain stock
ownership in Data I/O.

2. DEFINITIONS

   For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be  defined  as set forth
below:

   2.1 Acquired Entities.

   "Acquired Entities" has the meaning given in Section 6.2.

   2.2  Acquisition Transaction.

   "Acquisition Transaction" has the meaning given in Section 6.2.

   2.3  Award.

   "Award"  means   a   grant  made  to a  Participant  pursuant  to  the  Plan,
including,  without limitation,  grants of Options,  Stock Appreciation  Rights,
Stock Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing.

   2.4  Board.

   "Board" means the Board of Directors of Data I/O.

   2.5  Cause.

   "Cause"  means  dishonesty,  fraud,  misconduct,  disclosure  of confidential
information, conviction of, or a plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony under
the laws of the United States or any state thereof,  habitual  absence from work
for reasons other than  illness,  intentional  conduct which causes  significant
injury to Data I/O, habitual abuse of alcohol or a controlled substance, in each
case as determined by the Plan  Administrator,  and its  determination  shall be
conclusive and binding.

   2.6  Change in Control.

   "Change in Control" means (i) the consummation of a merger or consolidation
of Data I/O with or into another entity or any other  corporate  reorganization,
if more than 50% of the  combined  voting power of the  continuing  or surviving
entity's securities outstanding immediately after such merger,  consolidation or
other  reorganization  is owned by persons who were not shareholders of Data I/O
immediately prior to such merger,  consolidation or other reorganization or (ii)
the sale,  transfer or other  disposition  of all or  substantially  all of Data
I/O's assets. A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole
purpose  is to  change  the  state of Data  I/O's  incorporation  or to create a
holding company that will be owned in substantially  the same proportions by the
persons who held Data I/O's securities immediately before such transaction.

   2.7  Code.

   "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

   2.8  Common Stock.

   "Common Stock" means the common stock, no par value, of Data I/O.

   2.9  Disability.

   "Disability" means a medically  determinable  mental  or physical  impairment
or  condition  of the Holder  which is  expected to result in death or which has
lasted or is expected to last for a  continuous  period of twelve (12) months or
more and which  causes  the  Holder to be  unable,  in the  opinion  of the Plan
Administrator  on the basis of evidence  acceptable to it, to perform his or her
duties  for Data  I/O and,  in the case of a  determination  of  Disability  for
purposes of determining the exercise period for an Incentive Stock Option, to be
engaged in any substantial  gainful  activity.  Upon making a  determination  of
Disability,  the Plan Administrator  shall, for purposes of the Plan,  determine
the date of the  Holder's  termination  of  employment,  service or  contractual
relationship.

   2.10 Exchange Act.

   "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

   2.11 Fair Market Value.

   "Fair  Market  Value"  shall be as  established  in good  faith  by  the Plan
Administrator  or (a) if the Common  Stock is listed on the NASDAQ  Market,  the
mean between the high and low selling prices for the Common Stock as reported by
the NASDAQ Market for a single  trading day or (b) if the Common Stock is listed
on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange,  the mean between
the high  and low  selling  prices  for the  Common  Stock  as such  prices  are
officially  quoted in the composite tape of  transactions on such exchange for a
single  trading day. If there is no such reported price for the Common Stock for
the date in question,  then such price on the last preceding date for which such
price exists shall be determinative of Fair Market Value.

   2.12 Grant Date.

   "Grant  Date" means  the date the Plan  Administrator  adopted  the  granting
resolution or a later date designated in a resolution of the Plan  Administrator
as the date an Award is to be granted.

   2.13 Holder.

   "Holder" means the Participant to whom an Award is  granted  or  the personal
representative of a Holder who has died.

   2.14 Incentive Stock Option.

   "Incentive  Stock Option" means an Option to purchase  Common  Stock  granted
under  Section 7 with the  intention  that it  qualify  as an  "incentive  stock
option" as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.

   2.15 Involuntary Termination.

   "Involuntary Termination" means  termination of the Holder's service  to Data
I/O (or the parent or  subsidiary  company  employing  such Holder) or the other
party to the  transaction  constituting a Change in Control by reason of (i) the
involuntary  discharge  of such Holder by Data I/O (or the parent or  subsidiary
company   employing  such  Holder)  or  the  other  party  to  the   transaction
constituting  a Change in  Control  for  reasons  other  than  Cause or (ii) the
voluntary  resignation  of the Holder  following  (A) a change in such  Holder's
position  with Data I/O (or its  successor or the parent or  subsidiary  company
that employs such Holder) or the other party to the  transaction  constituting a
Change in Control that  materially  reduces such Holder's  level of authority or
responsibility or (B) a reduction in such Holder's compensation  (including base
salary,  fringe benefits and participation in bonus or incentive  programs based
on corporate performance) by more than 20%.

   2.16 Nonqualified Stock Option.

   "Nonqualified Stock Option" means an Option to purchase Common Stock granted
under Section 7 other than an Incentive Stock Option.

   2.17 Option.

   "Option" means the right to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 7.

   2.18 Option Shares.

   "Option Shares" means the shares  of  Common  Stock issuable upon  a Holder's
exercise of an Option granted under the Plan.

   2.19 Other Stock-Based Award.

   "Other Stock-Based Award" means an Award granted under Section 11.

   2.20 Participant.

   "Participant"  means an  individual  who is a Holder of  an Award or, as  the
context may require,  any employee,  director  (including  directors who are not
employees),  officer,  consultant,  agent, advisor or independent  contractor of
Data I/O or a Subsidiary who has been  designated by the Plan  Administrator  as
eligible to participate in the Plan.

   2.21 Plan Administrator.

     "Plan  Administrator"  means  the  Board  or any  committee  designated  to
administer the Plan under Section 3.1.

   2.22 Qualifying Award.

   "Qualifying Award" means an Option or an Award that is held by a person who
had been an employee, director, consultant or agent to Data I/O for at least 180
days as of the effective date of a Change in Control.

   2.23 Qualifying Shares.

   "Qualifying  Shares"  means  shares of  Common  Stock  issued  pursuant to  a
Qualifying  Award which are subject to the right of Data I/O to repurchase  some
or all of such shares at the original  purchase price (if any) upon  termination
of the Holder's services to Data I/O.

   2.24 Restricted Stock.

   "Restricted Stock" means shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to a Stock
Award  under  Section  10,  the  rights of  ownership  of which are  subject  to
restrictions prescribed by the Plan Administrator.

   2.25 Securities Act.

   "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

   2.26 Stock Appreciation Right.

   "Stock Appreciation Right" means an Award granted under Section 9.

   2.27 Stock Award.

   "Stock Award" means an Award granted under Section 10.

   2.28 Subsidiary.

   "Subsidiary," except as expressly provided otherwise, means  any  entity that
is  directly  or  indirectly  controlled  by Data I/O or in which Data I/O has a
significant ownership interest, as determined by the Plan Administrator, and any
entity that may become a direct or indirect parent of Data I/O.

   2.29 Unvested Portion.

   "Unvested  Portion"  means the portion of a Qualifying  Award  or  Qualifying
Shares that is/are unvested as of the effective date of a Change in Control.

   2.30 Vested Portion.

   "Vested  Portion"  means the portion of  a  Qualifying  Award  or  Qualifying
Shares that is/are vested as of the effective date of a Change in Control.

3. ADMINISTRATION

   3.1 Plan Administrator.

   The Plan shall be  administered  by the Board  or  a committee or  committees
(which term includes subcommittees)  appointed by, and consisting of two or more
members of, the Board.  Any such  committee  shall have the powers and authority
vested in the Board  hereunder  (including  the power and authority to interpret
any provision of the Plan or of any Award).  The Board, or any committee thereof
appointed  to  administer   the  Plan,  is  referred  to  herein  as  the  "Plan
Administrator."  If and so long as the Common Stock is registered  under Section
12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange  Act, the Board shall  consider in selecting  the
Plan   Administrator  and  the  membership  of  any  committee  acting  as  Plan
Administrator  for any persons subject or likely to become subject to Section 16
under the Exchange Act the  provisions  regarding  (a)  "outside  directors"  as
contemplated by Section 162(m) of the Code and (b)  "Non-Employee  Directors" as
contemplated   by  Rule  16b-3  under  the  Exchange  Act.  The  Board  or  Plan
Administrator  may delegate the  responsibility  for administering the Plan with
respect to  designated  classes of eligible  Participants  to one or more senior
executive  officers  or  committees  thereof,  the  members of which need not be
members  of  the  Board,   subject  to  such  limitations  as  the  Board  deems
appropriate.  Committee  members  shall  serve  for such  term as the  Board may
determine, subject to removal by the Board at any time.

   3.2 Administration and Interpretation by the Plan Administrator.

   Except for the terms,  conditions and  limitations  explicitly  set  forth in
the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have exclusive authority, in its absolute
discretion,  to  determine  all  matters  relating  to  Awards  under  the Plan,
including the selection of individuals to be granted Awards, the type of Awards,
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award, all terms, conditions,
restrictions  and  limitations,  if  any,  of an  Award  and  the  terms  of any
instrument  that  evidences the Award.  The Plan  Administrator  shall also have
exclusive  authority  to  interpret  the Plan and may from  time to time  adopt,
change and rescind rules and  regulations of general  application for the Plan's
administration.  This authority shall  include the sole authority to correct any
defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan and make
all other  determinations  necessary or advisable for the  administration of the
Plan and do everything necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan. The Plan
Administrator's  interpretation  of the Plan and its rules and regulations,  and
all actions taken and determinations made by the Plan Administrator  pursuant to
the Plan,  shall be conclusive and binding on all parties  involved or affected.
The Plan Administrator may delegate  administrative duties to such of Data I/O's
officers as it so determines.

4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

   4.1 Authorized Number of Shares.

     As of March 10,  2000,  Data I/O has  outstanding  options  with respect to
1,215,000  shares of Common Stock and 270,499  shares of Common Stock  available
for  additional  grants under the 2000 Plan and the Data I/O 1986 Employee Stock
Option Plan ("1986 Plan").  Subject to adjustment  from time to time as provided
in Section 14.1,  Awards of the authorized  but unissued  shares of Common Stock
under the 1986 Plan, or shares of Common Stock that become  available  under the
1986  Plan as a result of the  expiration  or  termination  of  options,  may be
granted under this Plan. Awards for an additional 300,000 shares of Common Stock
shall also be available  for issuance  under the Plan.  Shares  issued under the
Plan shall be drawn from authorized and unissued shares. See also Section 18 for
Plan amendments.

   4.2 Limitations.

   (a) Subject to  adjustment  from time to time as provided  in  Section  14.1,
not more than 200,000 shares of Common Stock may be made subject to Awards under
the Plan to any individual  Participant in the aggregate in any one (1) calendar
year,  except that Data I/O may make  additional  one-time grants to newly hired
Participants of up to 100,000 shares per such Participant; such limitation shall
be  applied in a manner  consistent  with the  requirements  of, and only to the
extent  required for  compliance  with,  the  exclusion  from the  limitation on
deductibility of compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

   (b) Subject to  adjustment  from time to  time as provided  in Section  14.1,
not more than  100,000  shares of Common  Stock may be made subject to Awards to
any  non-employee  director in the aggregate in any one calendar year. 4.3 Reuse
of Shares.

    Any  shares of Common  Stock  that have been made  subject to  an Award that
cease to be subject to the Award (other than by reason of exercise or payment of
the Award to the extent it is exercised for or settled in shares) and any shares
repurchased  by Data I/O from a Holder upon  exercise  of a right of  repurchase
shall again be available for issuance in connection with future grants of Awards
under the Plan;  provided,  however,  that any such  shares  shall be counted in
accordance with the  requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code of Ethics if and
to the extent  applicable.  Shares  that are subject to tandem  Awards  shall be
counted only once. Also, upon a stock-for-stock  exercise only the net number of
shares will be deemed to have been used under this Plan.

5. ELIGIBILITY

   Awards may be granted under the Plan to those  officers,  directors  and  key
employees of Data I/O and its Subsidiaries as the Plan  Administrator  from time
to time selects.  Awards may also be made to consultants,  agents,  advisors and
independent contractors who provide services to Data I/O and its Subsidiaries.

6. AWARDS

   6.1 Form and Grant of Awards.

   The Plan Administrator shall have the authority, in  its  sole discretion, to
determine the type or types of Awards to be made under the Plan. Such Awards may
include,  but are not limited to,  Incentive Stock Options,  Nonqualified  Stock
Options,  Stock Appreciation  Rights, Stock Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.
Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem so that the settlement
or payment of one automatically reduces or cancels the other. Awards may also be
made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, as alternatives to, or
as the  payment  form  for,  grants  or  rights  under  any  other  employee  or
compensation plan of Data I/O.

   6.2 Acquired Company Awards.

   Notwithstanding   anything   in   the  Plan   to  the   contrary,   the  Plan
Administrator  may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for awards issued
under other plans,  or assume under the Plan awards issued under other plans, if
the  other  plans  are or were  plans  of  other  acquired  entities  ("Acquired
Entities")  (or  the  parent  of the  Acquired  Entity)  and the  new  Award  is
substituted, or the old Award is assumed, by reason of a merger,  consolidation,
acquisition  of  property  or  of  stock,   reorganization  or  liquidation  (an
"Acquisition  Transaction").  If  a  written  agreement  pursuant  to  which  an
Acquisition Transaction is completed is approved by the Board and said agreement
sets forth the terms and  conditions  of the  substitution  for or assumption of
outstanding  awards of the Acquired  Entity,  said terms and conditions shall be
deemed to be the action of the Plan Administrator  without any further action by
the Plan Administrator, except as may be required for compliance with Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange  Act, and the persons  holding such Awards shall be deemed to
be Participants and Holders.

7. AWARDS OF OPTIONS

   7.1 Grant of Options.

   The  Plan   Administrator  is  authorized  under  the  Plan,  in   its   sole
discretion, to issue Options as Incentive Stock Options or as Nonqualified Stock
Options, which shall be appropriately designated.

   7.2 Option Exercise Price.

   The  exercise  price  for  shares  purchased  under an  Option   shall  be as
determined  by the Plan  Administrator,  but  shall not be less than 100% of the
Fair  Market  Value of the  Common  Stock on the  Grant  Date  with  respect  to
Incentive Stock Options.

   7.3 Term of Options.

   The term of each Option shall be as established  by  the  Plan  Administrator
or, if not so established, shall be six (6) years from the Grant Date.

   7.4 Exercise of Options.

   The Plan  Administrator  shall  establish and  set forth  in each  instrument
that  evidences  an Option  the time at which or the  installments  in which the
Option shall become  exercisable,  which provisions may be waived or modified by
the Plan  Administrator  at any time. If not so  established  in the  instrument
evidencing the Option or otherwise set at the time of grant,  the Option will be
subject  to  the  following:  (a)  25% of  the  Option  shall  vest  and  become
exercisable on each  anniversary of the Grant Date such that the Option shall be
fully vested on the fourth  anniversary of the Grant Date; (b) in no event shall
any additional Option Shares vest after termination of Holder's employment by or
service  to Data I/O;  and (c) the Plan  Administrator  may waive or modify  the
foregoing schedule at any time.

     To the extent that the right to purchase shares has accrued thereunder,  an
Option  may be  exercised  from time to time by written  notice to Data I/O,  in
accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator,  setting forth
the number of shares  with  respect to which the Option is being  exercised  and
accompanied by payment in full as described in Section 7.5. An Option may not be
exercised  as to less than 100 shares at any one time (or the  lesser  number of
remaining shares covered by the Option).

   7.5 Payment of Exercise Price.

   The exercise  price for shares  purchased  under  an  Option shall be paid in
full to Data I/O by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option
exercise price and the number of shares purchased.  Such  consideration  must be
paid in cash or check (unless,  at the time of exercise,  the Plan Administrator
determines not to accept a personal check),  except that the Plan Administrator,
in its sole discretion,  may, either at the time the Option is granted or at any
time  before  it is  exercised  and  subject  to such  limitations  as the  Plan
Administrator may determine, authorize payment in cash and/or one or more of the
following  alternative  forms: (a) tendering (either actually or, if and so long
as the Common Stock is  registered  under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange
Act, by  attestation)  Common Stock already owned by the Holder for at least six
months (or any shorter period necessary to avoid a charge to Data I/O's earnings
for financial reporting purposes) having a Fair Market Value on the day prior to
the exercise date equal to the aggregate Option exercise price; (b) a promissory
note delivered pursuant to Section 12; (c) if and so long as the Common Stock is
registered  under  Section  12(b) or 12(g) of the  Exchange  Act,  delivery of a
properly executed exercise notice,  together with irrevocable  instructions,  to
(i) a third  party  designated  by Data I/O to deliver  promptly to Data I/O the
aggregate  amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the Option  exercise price and
any withholding  tax obligations  that may arise in connection with the exercise
and (ii) Data I/O to deliver the certificates for such purchased shares directly
to such third  party,  all in  accordance  with the  regulations  of the Federal
Reserve Board; or (d) such other  consideration  as the Plan  Administrator  may
permit.

   7.6 Post-Termination Exercises.

   The Plan  Administrator may establish and set forth  in  each instrument that
evidences an Option whether the Option will continue to be exercisable,  and the
terms and conditions of such exercise,  if a Holder ceases to be employed by, or
to provide  services to, Data I/O or its  Subsidiaries,  which provisions may be
waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time.

     If not so established in the instrument  evidencing the Option,  the Option
will be exercisable  according to the following terms and conditions,  which may
be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time.

     In case of termination of the Holder's employment or services other than by
reason of death or Cause, the Option shall be exercisable,  to the extent of the
number of shares purchasable by the Holder at the date of such termination, only
(a)  within  one (1)  year if the  termination  of the  Holder's  employment  or
services are coincident with Disability or (b) within three (3) months after the
date the Holder ceases to be an employee, director, officer, consultant,  agent,
advisor or independent  contractor of Data I/O or a Subsidiary if termination of
the  Holder's  employment  or  services  is for any  reason  other than death or
Disability,  but in no event later than the  remaining  term of the Option.  Any
Option  exercisable at the time of the Holder's  death may be exercised,  to the
extent  of the  number of shares  purchasable  by the  Holder at the date of the
Holder's death, by the personal  representative  of the Holder's estate entitled
thereto  at any time or from time to time  within one (1) year after the date of
death,  but in no event later than the remaining term of the Option.  In case of
termination of the Holder's  employment or services for Cause,  the Option shall
automatically  terminate upon first discovery by Data I/O of any reason for such
termination  and the Holder shall have no right to purchase any Shares  pursuant
to such  Option,  unless  the  Plan  Administrator  determines  otherwise.  If a
Holder's  employment  or  services  with  Data  I/O  are  suspended  pending  an
investigation  of whether  the Holder  shall be  terminated  for Cause,  all the
Holder's rights under any Option  likewise shall be suspended  during the period
of investigation.

     A transfer  of  employment  or  services  between or among Data I/O and its
Subsidiaries  shall not be considered a  termination  of employment or services.
The effect of a Company-approved leave of absence or short-term break in service
on the  terms  and  conditions  of an  Option  shall be  determined  by the Plan
Administrator, in its sole discretion.

8.  INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION LIMITATIONS

    To the extent required by Section 422 of  the Code,  Incentive Stock Options
shall be subject to the following additional terms and conditions:

    8.1 Dollar Limitation.

    To the extent the aggregate  Fair Market  Value  (determined as of the Grant
Date) of  Common  Stock  with  respect  to which  Incentive  Stock  Options  are
exercisable  for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all
other stock option plans of Data I/O) exceeds  $100,000,  such portion in excess
of $100,000  shall be treated as a Nonqualified  Stock Option.  In the event the
Participant  holds two (2) or more such Options that become  exercisable for the
first time in the same calendar year,  such  limitation  shall be applied on the
basis of the order in which such Options were granted.

   8.2 10% Shareholders.

   If a  Participant  owns  more  than  10% of  the  total  voting  power of all
classes of Data I/O's stock,  then the exercise  price per share of an Incentive
Stock  Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on the Grant Date and the Option term shall not exceed five (5) years. The
determination  of 10% ownership  shall be made in accordance with Section 422 of
the Code.

   8.3 Eligible Employees.

   Individuals  who  are  not  employees  of  Data  I/O or  one  of  its  parent
corporations  or  subsidiary  corporations  may not be granted  Incentive  Stock
Options.  For purposes of this Section 8.3, "parent corporation" and "subsidiary
corporation"  shall have the meanings  attributed to those terms for purposes of
Section 422 of the Code.

   8.4 Term.

   The term of an Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed ten (10) years.

   8.5 Exercisability.

   To qualify for Incentive Stock Option  tax treatment,  an  Option  designated
as an Incentive  Stock  Option must be  exercised  within three (3) months after
termination of employment for reasons other than death, except that, in the case
of  termination  of  employment  due to total  Disability,  such  Option must be
exercised  within one (1) year after such  termination.  Employment shall not be
deemed to  continue  beyond the first 90 days of a leave of  absence  unless the
Participant's reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or contract.

   8.6 Taxation of Incentive Stock Options.

   In order to obtain certain tax  benefits  afforded to Incentive Stock Options
under Section 422 of the Code, the Participant  must hold the shares issued upon
the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option for two (2) years after the Grant Date
of the  Incentive  Stock  Option  and one (1) year from the date the  shares are
transferred to the Participant.  A Participant may be subject to the alternative
minimum  tax  at  the  time  of  exercise  of an  Incentive  Stock  Option.  The
Participant  shall  give Data I/O  prompt  notice of any  disposition  of shares
acquired by the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option prior to the expiration of
such holding periods.

   8.7 Promissory Notes.

   The  amount of  any  promissory  note  delivered  pursuant  to  Section 12 in
connection  with  an  Incentive  Stock  Option  shall  bear  interest  at a rate
specified by the Plan  Administrator  but in no case less than the rate required
to avoid  imputation  of interest  (taking  into account any  exceptions  to the
imputed interest rules) for federal income tax purposes.

   8.8 Incorporation of Other Provisions.

   With respect to  Incentive Stock Options,  if  this Plan does not contain any
provision  required to be included  herein under  Section 422 of the Code,  such
provision  shall be deemed to be  incorporated  herein  with the same  force and
effect as if such provision had been set out in full herein; provided,  however,
that to the extent any Option that is intended to qualify as an Incentive  Stock
Option cannot so qualify,  the Option,  to that extent,  shall be deemed to be a
Nonqualified Stock Option for all purposes of this Plan.

9.  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

    9.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.

    The Plan  Administrator may grant a Stock  Appreciation Right separately or
in tandem with a related Option.

   9.2 Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights.

   A Stock  Appreciation  Right  granted in tandem  with  a related  Option will
give the  Holder  the right to  surrender  to Data I/O all or a  portion  of the
related Option and to receive an appreciation  distribution (in shares of Common
Stock or cash or any combination of shares and cash, as the Plan  Administrator,
in its sole  discretion,  shall determine at any time) in an amount equal to the
excess of the Fair  Market  Value for the date the Stock  Appreciation  Right is
exercised  over the  exercise  price per share of the right,  which shall be the
same as the exercise price of the related  Option.  A tandem Stock  Appreciation
Right will have the same other terms and provisions as the related Option.  Upon
and to the extent a tandem Stock  Appreciation  Right is exercised,  the related
Option will terminate.

   9.3 Stand-Alone Stock Appreciation Rights.

   A Stock  Appreciation  Right granted  separately  and  not  in tandem with an
Option will give the Holder the right to receive an appreciation distribution in
an amount  equal to the excess of the Fair  Market  Value for the date the Stock
Appreciation  Right is exercised over the exercise price per share of the right.
A  stand-alone  Stock  Appreciation  Right  will  have  such  terms  as the Plan
Administrator may determine, except that the term of the right, if not otherwise
established  by the Plan  Administrator,  shall be ten (10) years from the Grant
Date.

   9.4 Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights.

   Unless otherwise  provided by the Plan Administrator in  the  instrument that
evidences the Stock  Appreciation  Right, the provisions of Section 7.6 relating
to the termination of a Holder's  employment or services shall apply equally, to
the extent applicable, to the Holder of a Stock Appreciation Right.

10. STOCK AWARDS

    10.1 Grant of Stock Awards.

    The Plan  Administrator  is authorized to make Awards of  Common Stock or of
rights to  receive  shares of Common  Stock to  Participants  on such  terms and
conditions  and  subject  to such  restrictions,  if any  (which may be based on
continuous service with Data I/O or the achievement of performance goals related
to (i) sales, gross margin,  operating profits or profits, (ii) growth in sales,
gross  margin,  operating  profits or profits,  (iii) return  ratios  related to
sales,  gross margin,  operating  profits or profits,  (iv) cash flow, (v) asset
management (including inventory  management),  or (vi) total shareholder return,
where such  goals may be stated in  absolute  terms or  relative  to  comparison
companies),  as the Plan Administrator shall determine,  in its sole discretion,
which terms,  conditions and  restrictions  shall be set forth in the instrument
evidencing  the Award.  The terms,  conditions  and  restrictions  that the Plan
Administrator  shall  have  the  power  to  determine  shall  include,   without
limitation,  the manner in which shares  subject to Stock Awards are held during
the periods they are subject to restrictions and the  circumstances  under which
forfeiture  of  Restricted  Stock  shall occur by reason of  termination  of the
Holder's services or upon the occurrence of other events.

    10.2 Issuance of Shares.

    Upon the satisfaction of any terms,  conditions and  restrictions prescribed
with  respect to a Stock  Award,  or upon the  Holder's  release from any terms,
conditions  and  restrictions  of a  Stock  Award,  as  determined  by the  Plan
Administrator,  Data I/O shall transfer,  as soon as practicable,  to the Holder
or, in the case of the Holder's  death,  to the personal  representative  of the
Holder's estate or as the appropriate court directs,  the appropriate  number of
shares of Common Stock covered by the Award. 10.3 Waiver of Restrictions.

   Notwithstanding  any other  provisions of  the Plan, the  Plan  Administrator
may, in its sole  discretion,  waive the forfeiture  period and any other terms,
conditions or restrictions on any Restricted Stock under such  circumstances and
subject  to such  terms and  conditions  as the Plan  Administrator  shall  deem
appropriate.

11. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

    The Plan  Administrator  may grant other Awards under  the Plan  pursuant to
which shares of Common  Stock (which may, but need not, be shares of  Restricted
Stock  pursuant to Section 10) are or may in the future be  acquired,  or Awards
denominated  in stock units,  including  ones valued using  measures  other than
market value. Such Other Stock-Based  Awards may be granted alone or in addition
to or in tandem  with any Award of any type  granted  under the Plan and must be
consistent with the Plan's purpose.

12.  LOANS, INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS AND LOAN GUARANTEES

     To assist a Holder  (including  a Holder who is an officer or  director  of
Data I/O) in acquiring shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award granted under
the Plan, the Plan Administrator,  in its sole discretion, may authorize, either
at the Grant Date or at any time before the acquisition of Common Stock pursuant
to the Award,  (a) the  extension  of a loan to the Holder by Data I/O,  (b) the
payment by the Holder of the  purchase  price,  if any,  of the Common  Stock in
installments, or (c) the guarantee by Data I/O of a loan obtained by the grantee
from a third  party.  The  terms  of any  loans,  installment  payments  or loan
guarantees, including the interest rate and terms of and security for repayment,
will be subject to the Plan Administrator's discretion;  provided, however, that
repayment  of any Company  loan to the Holder  shall be secured by delivery of a
full-recourse  promissory  note  for the loan  amount  executed  by the  Holder,
together with any other form of security  determined by the Plan  Administrator.
The maximum credit  available is the purchase price, if any, of the Common Stock
acquired, plus the maximum federal and state income and employment tax liability
that may be incurred in connection with the acquisition.

13.  ASSIGNABILITY

     Except as otherwise  specified or approved by the Plan Administrator at the
time of grant of an Award or any time prior to its  exercise,  no Award  granted
under the Plan may be assigned,  pledged or transferred by the Holder other than
by will or by the laws of descent  and  distribution,  and  during the  Holder's
lifetime,  such Awards may be exercised only by the Holder.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  and to the extent  permitted  by Section  422 of the Code,  the Plan
Administrator,  in its sole discretion, may permit such assignment, transfer and
exercisability and may permit a Holder of such Awards to designate a beneficiary
who may  exercise  the Award or receive  compensation  under the Award after the
Holder's death; provided, however, that (i) any Award so assigned or transferred
shall  be  subject  to all  the  same  terms  and  conditions  contained  in the
instrument  evidencing the Award,  (ii) the original Holder shall remain subject
to withholding  taxes upon exercise,  (iii) any subsequent  transfer of an Award
shall  be  prohibited  and (iv) the  events  of  termination  of  employment  or
contractual  relationship  set forth in subsection  7.6 shall  continue to apply
with respect to the original transferor-Holder.

14.  ADJUSTMENTS

     14.1  Adjustment of Shares.

     In the  event  that,  at any time or from time to time,  a stock  dividend,
stock  split,  spin-off,  combination  or exchange of shares,  recapitalization,
merger,  consolidation,  distribution to  shareholders  other than a normal cash
dividend,  or other change in Data I/O's corporate or capital  structure results
in (a) the outstanding shares, or any securities  exchanged therefor or received
in their place, being exchanged for a different number or class of securities of
Data  I/O or of any  other  corporation  or (b)  new,  different  or  additional
securities of Data I/O or of any other corporation being received by the holders
of shares of Common Stock of Data I/O, then the Plan Administrator,  in its sole
discretion,  shall make such equitable  adjustments as it shall deem appropriate
in the  circumstances in (i) the maximum number and class of securities  subject
to the Plan as set forth in Section  4.1,  (ii) the maximum  number and class of
securities  that may be made subject to Awards to any individual  Participant as
set forth in Section 4.2, and (iii) the number and class of securities  that are
subject to any  outstanding  Award and the per share  price of such  securities,
without any change in the aggregate price to be paid therefor. The determination
by the Plan  Administrator  as to the terms of any of the foregoing  adjustments
shall be conclusive and binding.

    14.2  Dissolution, Liquidation or Change in Control Transactions.

    (a) In the event of the proposed  dissolution  or  liquidation  of Data I/O,
Data I/O shall  notify  each  Holder at least  fifteen  (15) days  prior to such
proposed  action.  To the  extent not  previously  exercised,  all  Awards  will
terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

     (b)  Unless  the  applicable  agreement  representing  an  Option  provides
otherwise, or unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise in its sole and
absolute  discretion  in  connection  with any Change in Control,  a  Qualifying
Option which is not  exercisable in full shall become  exercisable in connection
with a Change in Control which becomes  effective before the Holder's service to
Data I/O terminates as follows:

     (i) If the Qualifying  Option remains  outstanding  following the Change in
Control,  is assumed by the  surviving  entity or its parent,  or the  surviving
entity or its parent  substitutes  options with substantially the same terms for
such Qualifying  Option, the vesting and exercisability of the Qualifying Option
shall be accelerated to the extent of 25% of the Unvested Portion  thereof,  and
the remaining 75% of the Unvested  Portion of such Qualifying  Option shall vest
in  accordance  with the vesting  schedule  set forth in the  applicable  Option
agreement.

     (ii) If the Qualifying Option remains  outstanding  following the Change in
Control,  is assumed by the  surviving  entity or its parent,  or the  surviving
entity or its parent  substitutes  options with substantially the same terms for
such  Qualifying  Option and if the Holder  thereof is subject to an Involuntary
Termination  within 180 days following such Change in Control,  then all Options
held by such Holder (or options  issued in  substitution  thereof)  shall become
exercisable in full,  whether or not the vesting  requirements  set forth in the
Option agreement have been satisfied,  for a period of 90 days commencing on the
effective  date of such Holder's  Involuntary  Termination,  or if shorter,  the
remaining term of the option.

     (iii) If a Qualifying Option does not remain  outstanding,  and either such
Qualifying  Option is not assumed by the surviving entity or its parent,  or the
surviving  entity or its parent does not substitute  options with  substantially
the same terms for such Qualifying  Option,  such Qualifying Option shall become
exercisable in full,  whether or not the vesting  requirements  set forth in the
Option  agreement have been satisfied,  for a period prior to the effective date
of such Change in Control of a duration specified by the Plan Administrator, and
thereafter the Option shall terminate.

     (c)  Unless  the  applicable  agreement   representing  an  Award  provides
otherwise, or unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise in its sole and
absolute  discretion  in connection  with any Change in Control,  the vesting of
Qualifying  Shares shall be accelerated,  and Data I/O's  repurchase  right with
respect to such shares shall lapse, in connection with a Change in Control which
becomes  effective  before  such  Holder's  service  to Data I/O  terminates  as
follows:

     (i) If Qualifying  Options were  outstanding  at the effective  time of the
Change in Control and they are  partially  accelerated  pursuant  to  Subsection
(b)(i) above or if there were no Qualifying Options outstanding at the effective
time of the Change in Control,  the vesting of all  Qualifying  Shares  shall be
accelerated  to the  extent  of 25% of the  Unvested  Portion  thereof,  and the
remaining 75% of the Unvested  Portion of such  Qualifying  Shares shall vest in
accordance  with  the  vesting  schedule  set  forth  in  the  applicable  Award
agreement.

     (ii) If the  preceding  clause (i)  applied  and if a Holder of  Qualifying
Shares is subject to an  Involuntary  Termination  within 180 days following the
same  Change in  Control,  then all  Qualifying  Shares  held by such Holder (or
shares issued in substitution  thereof) shall become vested in full,  whether or
not the vesting  requirements  set forth in the applicable  Award agreement have
been satisfied.

     (iii) If Qualifying  Options were  outstanding at the effective time of the
Change in  Control  and they are  accelerated  in full  pursuant  to  Subsection
(b)(iii)  above or  otherwise,  the vesting of all  Qualifying  Shares  shall be
accelerated  in full, and Data I/O's  repurchase  right with respect to all such
shares shall lapse in full, whether or not the vesting requirements set forth in
the applicable Award agreement have been satisfied.

     (d)  Notwithstanding  Subsections  (b) and (c)  above,  if Data I/O and the
other party to the transaction  constituting a Change in Control agree that such
transaction is to be treated as a "pooling of interests" for financial reporting
purposes,  and if Data  I/O's  independent  public  accountants  and such  other
party's independent public accountants  separately  determine in good faith that
the transaction  constituting a Change in Control would qualify for treatment as
a "pooling of interests"  but for the  acceleration  of vesting  provided for in
Subsections (b) and (c) above,  then the acceleration of  exercisability  or the
lapse of Data I/O's right to repurchase  shall not occur to the extent that Data
I/O's independent public  accountants and such other party's  independent public
accountants  separately  determine  in good faith that such  acceleration  would
preclude the use of "pooling of interests" accounting for such transaction.

     14.3  Further Adjustment of Awards.

     Subject to the preceding  Section 14.2, the Plan  Administrator  shall have
the discretion,  exercisable at any time before a sale,  merger,  consolidation,
reorganization,  dissolution,  liquidation  or Change in Control of Data I/O, as
defined by the Plan Administrator,  to take such further action as it determines
to be necessary or  advisable,  and fair and  equitable  to  Participants,  with
respect to Awards.  Such authorized action may include (but shall not be limited
to) establishing,  amending or waiving the type,  terms,  conditions or duration
of, or restrictions on, Awards so as to provide for earlier,  later, extended or
additional  time for exercise,  payment or  settlement or lifting  restrictions,
differing methods for calculating  payments or settlements,  alternate forms and
amounts  of  payments  and  settlements  and other  modifications,  and the Plan
Administrator may take such actions with respect to all Participants, to certain
categories  of  Participants  or  only  to  individual  Participants.  The  Plan
Administrator may take such actions before or after granting Awards to which the
action relates and before or after any public  announcement with respect to such
sale, merger, consolidation,  reorganization, dissolution, liquidation or Change
in Control that is the reason for such action.  Without  limiting the generality
of the  foregoing,  if  Data  I/O  is a  party  to a  merger  or  consolidation,
outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement of merger or consolidation.
Such agreement, without the Holder's consent, may provide for:

     (a) the continuation of such outstanding  Award by Data I/O (if Data I/O is
the surviving corporation);

     (b) the  assumption of the Plan and some or all  outstanding  Awards by the
surviving corporation or its parent;

     (c) the  substitution by the surviving  corporation or its parent of Awards
with substantially the same terms for such outstanding Awards; or

     (d) the cancellation of such outstanding  Awards with or without payment of
any consideration.

      14.4   Limitations.

     The grant of Awards  will in no way  affect  Data  I/O's  right to  adjust,
reclassify,  reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or
to merge, consolidate,  dissolve,  liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part
of its business or assets.

     14.5  Fractional Shares.

     In the event of any  adjustment  in the  number of  shares  covered  by any
Option,   any  fractional   shares  resulting  from  such  adjustment  shall  be
disregarded  and each such  Option  shall  cover only the number of full  shares
resulting from such adjustment.

15.  WITHHOLDING

     Data I/O may  require  the  Holder to pay to Data I/O in cash the amount of
any withholding  taxes that Data I/O is required to withhold with respect to the
grant,  exercise,  payment or settlement  of any Award.  Data I/O shall have the
right to withhold from any Award or any shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant
to an Award or from any cash  amounts  otherwise  due or to become due from Data
I/O to the  Participant an amount equal to such taxes.  Data I/O may also deduct
from any Award  any  other  amounts  due from the  Participant  to Data I/O or a
Subsidiary.

16.   AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

      16.1   Amendment of Plan.

     The Plan may be  amended  by the Board in such  respects  as it shall  deem
advisable including, without limitation, such modifications or amendments as are
necessary to maintain compliance with applicable statutes, rules or regulations;
however,  to the extent  required for compliance with Section 422 of the Code or
any applicable law or regulation,  shareholder approval will be required for any
amendment  that  will  increase  the  aggregate  number  of  shares  as to which
Incentive  Stock Options may be granted or change the class of persons  eligible
to   participate.   Amendments   made  to  the  Plan  which   would   constitute
"modifications"  to  Incentive  Stock  Options  outstanding  on the date of such
Amendments shall not be applicable to such  outstanding  Incentive Stock Options
but  shall  have   prospective   effect  only.   The  Board  may  condition  the
effectiveness  of any amendment on the receipt of  shareholder  approval at such
time and in such  manner  as the Board may  consider  necessary  for Data I/O to
comply  with or to avail Data I/O,  the  Holders or both of the  benefits of any
securities,   tax,  market  listing  or  other   administrative   or  regulatory
requirement  which the Board  determines to be desirable.  Whenever  shareholder
approval is sought,  and unless required otherwise by applicable law or exchange
requirements,  the proposed action shall require the affirmative vote of holders
of a majority of the shares  present,  entitled to vote and voting on the matter
without including abstentions or broker non-votes in the denominator.

     16.2   Termination Of Plan.

     Data I/O's  shareholders  or the Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at
any time. The Plan will have no fixed expiration date; provided,  however,  that
no  Incentive  Stock  Options may be granted  more than ten (10) years after the
earlier of the Plan's adoption by the Board or approval by the shareholders.

17.  GENERAL

     17.1   Award Agreements.

     Awards  granted  under the Plan shall be evidenced  by a written  agreement
which shall contain such terms, conditions,  limitations and restrictions as the
Plan Administrator  shall deem advisable and which are not inconsistent with the
Plan.

     17.2   Continued Employment or Services; Rights In Awards.

     None of the Plan,  participation in the Plan as a Participant or any action
of the Plan Administrator  taken under the Plan shall be construed as giving any
Participant  or  employee  of Data I/O any right to be retained in the employ of
Data I/O or limit Data I/O's right to terminate  the  employment  or services of
the Participant.

     17.3   Registration; Certificates For Shares.

     Data I/O shall be under no  obligation to any  Participant  to register for
offering or resale or to qualify for exemption  under the Securities  Act, or to
register or qualify  under state  securities  laws,  any shares of Common Stock,
security  or  interest in a security  paid or issued  under,  or created by, the
Plan, or to continue in effect any such registrations or qualifications if made.
Data I/O may issue certificates for shares with such legends and subject to such
restrictions on transfer and stop-transfer  instructions as counsel for Data I/O
deems  necessary or desirable for  compliance by Data I/O with federal and state
securities laws.

     Inability  of  Data  I/O  to  obtain,   from  any  regulatory  body  having
jurisdiction, the authority deemed by Data I/O's counsel to be necessary for the
lawful  issuance and sale of any shares  hereunder or the  unavailability  of an
exemption from  registration  for the issuance and sale of any shares  hereunder
shall relieve Data I/O of any liability in respect of the nonissuance or sale of
such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

     17.4   No Rights As A Shareholder.

     No  Option,  Stock  Appreciation  Right or Other  Stock-Based  Award  shall
entitle the Holder to any cash dividend,  voting or other right of a shareholder
unless and until the date of issuance  under the Plan of the shares that are the
subject of such Award, free of all applicable restrictions.

     17.5   Compliance With Laws And Regulations.

     In interpreting and applying the provisions of the Plan, any Option granted
as an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to the Plan shall, to the extent permitted
by law,  be  construed  as an  "incentive  stock  option"  within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code.

     17.6   No Trust Or Fund.

     The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded"  plan.  Nothing  contained
herein  shall  require Data I/O to segregate  any monies or other  property,  or
shares of Common Stock, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits
for any  immediate  or  deferred  amounts  payable  to any  Participant,  and no
Participant  shall  have any  rights  that are  greater  than those of a general
unsecured creditor of Data I/O.

     17.7   Severability.

     If any  provision  of the Plan or any Award is  determined  to be  invalid,
illegal or  unenforceable  in any  jurisdiction,  or as to any person,  or would
disqualify  the Plan or any Award  under any law deemed  applicable  by the Plan
Administrator, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to
applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without,  in
the Plan  Administrator's  determination,  materially altering the intent of the
Plan or the Award,  such  provision  shall be stricken as to such  jurisdiction,
person or Award,  and the  remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain
in full force and effect.

18.  EFFECTIVE DATE

     The Plan's  effective date is the date on which it is adopted by the Board,
so long as it is approved by Data I/O's  shareholders  at any time within twelve
(12) months of such adoption.

     Original  Plan  adopted by the Board on February  28, 2000 and  approved by
Data I/O's  shareholders  in May 2000.  The Plan was amended and approved by the
Board and Data I/O's shareholders in 2002 to add an additional 200,000 shares of
Common Stock to be reserved for issuance under the Plan.




                                                                     Appendix B

                             AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

This updated  Audit  Committee  Charter was adopted by the Board of Directors of
Data I/O Corporation on February 10, 2004.

Composition:

The audit committee shall be composed of three or more directors,  as determined
by the  board  of  directors.  Each of the  committee  members  shall  meet  the
independence  and  financial  literacy  requirements  of NASDAQ unless the Board
determines  that no more than one individual who does not meet the  independence
requirements  and who  shall not  serve  for more  than two  years  would  bring
valuable financial or accounting  experience to the committee.  In addition,  at
least one of the members  shall have past  employment  experience  in finance or
accounting,  requisite  professional  certification in accounting,  or any other
comparable experience or background which results in the individual's  financial
sophistication,  including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief
financial   officer  or  other   senior   officer   with   financial   oversight
responsibilities.  Unless  the  board  of  directors  designates  a  chair,  the
committee  members  may  appoint  their own  chair by  majority  vote  provided,
however, that a committee member who does not meet the independence requirements
of NASDAQ shall not serve as chair.

Statement of Policy:

The audit  committee of the board of directors  assists the board in  fulfilling
their oversight responsibility to the shareholders,  potential shareholders, the
investment community, and others relating to Data I/O's financial statements and
the  financial  reporting  process,  the  systems  of  internal  accounting  and
financial  controls,  and the annual  independent  audit of Data I/O's financial
statements.  In so doing, it is the  responsibility of the committee to maintain
free and open  communication  among the  committee,  independent  auditors,  and
management  of Data I/O. In  discharging  its oversight  role,  the committee is
empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention with full access to
all  books,  records,  facilities,  and  personnel  of Data I/O and the power to
retain outside counsel or other experts for this purpose. Data I/O shall provide
for  appropriate  funding,  as  determined  by the  committee,  for  payment  of
compensation to the independent  auditor for the purpose of rendering or issuing
an audit report and to any advisors employed by the committee.

Responsibilities:

1.  Appoint,   oversee,   evaluate  and  approve  compensation  for  Data  I/O's
independent  auditor and, if so determined by the audit  committee,  replace the
independent  auditor.  Establish  policies  and  procedures  for the  review and
pre-approval by the committee of all auditing services and permissible non-audit
services  (including  the  fees  and  terms  thereof)  to be  performed  by  the
independent auditor.

2. Ensure the receipt of, and evaluate,  the written  disclosures and the letter
that the  independent  auditor  submits  to the audit  committee  regarding  the
auditor's  independence in accordance with Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1. Discuss such  reports  with the auditor and  recommend  that the board of
directors take appropriate action to address issues raised by such evaluation.

3. Discuss with the independent  auditor the matters required to be discussed by
SAS-61, as it may be modified or supplemented.

4. Instruct  management,  the independent  auditor and any internal auditor that
the  committee  expects to be informed if there are any  subjects  that  require
special  attention or if they perceive any significant  weaknesses in Data I/O's
information and reporting systems.

5. Meet with  management  and the  independent  auditor  to  discuss  the annual
financial  statements and the report of the independent auditor thereon,  and to
discuss  significant  issues  encountered  in  the  course  of the  audit  work,
including   restrictions  on  the  scope  of  activities,   access  to  required
information and the adequacy of internal financial controls.

6.  Review  the  management  letter  delivered  by the  independent  auditor  in
connection with the audit.

7. Meet quarterly with  management  and the  independent  auditor to discuss the
quarterly  financial  statements  prior to the filing of the Form 10Q;  provided
that  this  responsibility  may be  delegated  to  the  chairman  of  the  audit
committee.

8. Meet at least once each year in separate  executive  sessions with management
and the independent auditor to discuss matters that any of them or the committee
believes  could  significantly  affect the  financial  statements  and should be
discussed privately.

9. Have  such  meetings  with  management  and the  independent  auditor  as the
committee  deems  appropriate  to discuss  significant  financial risk exposures
facing Data I/O and  management's  plans for  monitoring  and  controlling  such
exposures.

10. Review significant changes to Data I/O's accounting principles and practices
proposed by the independent auditor or management.

11. Provide minutes of audit committee  meetings to the board of directors,  and
report to the board of directors  on any  significant  matters  arising from the
committee's work.

12. At least  annually,  review and reassess  this charter and, if  appropriate,
recommend proposed changes to the board of directors.

13.  Prepare the report  required by the rules of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission to be included in Data I/O's annual proxy statement.

14. Review and approve all  related-party or  conflict-of-interest  transactions
(as defined by the relevant NASDAQ listing requirements) involving other members
of the board of directors or Data I/O's senior management.

15. Establish procedures for the receipts, retention and treatment of complaints
received by Data I/O regarding  accounting,  internal  accounting  controls,  or
auditing  matters,  and the confidential,  anonymous  submission by employees of
concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

16.  Establish  policies for the hiring of employees and former employees of the
independent auditor.

17. In the  performance  of its  responsibilities,  the audit  committee  is the
representative of the shareholders. However, it is not the responsibility of the
audit  committee to plan or conduct audits,  or to determine  whether Data I/O's
financial  statements are complete and accurate or in accordance  with generally
accepted accounting principles.




                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

           Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                      Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [  ]

[  ]     Preliminary Proxy Statement
[  ]     Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
         Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]      Definitive Proxy Statement
[  ]     Definitive Additional Materials
[  ]     Soliciting Material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                              DATA I/O CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


                                  Same As Above
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]      No fee.
[  ]     $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(j)(2)
         or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[  ]     $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act
         Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
[  ]     Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)and 0-11.
         1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
         2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
         3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
             pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
             the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
         4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
         5)  Total fee paid:

[  ]     Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[  ]     Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
         Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
         was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
         statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

         1)       Amount Previously Paid:
         2)       Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
         3)       Filing Party:
         4)       Date Filed:




Proxy

           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                              Data I/O CORPORATION

The undersigned  hereby appoints Frederick R. Hume, and Joel S. Hatlen, and each
of them as proxies, each with full power of substitution,  to represent and vote
for and on behalf of the undersigned,  as designated below, the number of shares
of common stock of Data I/O Corporation  that the undersigned  would be entitled
to vote if personally  present at the annual meeting of  shareholders to be held
on May 20, 2004, or at any adjournment  thereof.  The  undersigned  directs that
this proxy be voted as indicated on the reverse side hereof:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMENTS/ADDRESS CHANGE:Please mark comments/address change box on reverse side.







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Continued, and to be marked, dated and
                             signed on reverse side)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              FOLD AND DETACH HERE








                                                          Please mark
                                                          your votes as
                                                          indicated in
                                                          this example   [x]

This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed on this
proxy card. The Board of Directors  recommends a vote FOR all nominees,  FOR the
proposal  to  approve  the  amendment  to the Data I/O  Corporation  2000  Stock
Compensation  Incentive  Plan,  and FOR  ratification  of the selection of Grant
Thornton LLP as Data I/O's  independent  auditors.  If no specification is made,
all shares represented by this proxy will be voted FOR all of said nominees, FOR
the  proposed  amendment  to the Data I/O  Corporation  2000 Stock  Compensation
Incentive  Plan, and FOR  ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as
Data  I/O's  independent  auditors,  and will be voted  in  accordance  with the
discretion of the proxies on all other matters which may come before the meeting
or any adjournment thereof.

1.  Election of Directors

(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a
line through the nominee's name in the list below.)

Glen F. Ceiley
Daniel A. DiLeo
Paul A. Gary
Frederick R. Hume
Edward D. Lazowska
Steven M. Quist
William R. Walker

FOR all nominees listed at left (except as marked to the contrary at left). [__]

WITHHOLD ALL AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed at left.             [__]

2.  Proposal to approve the amendment to the Data I/O Corporation  2000 Stock
    Compensation Incentive Plan as described in  the Proxy Statement for  the
    2004 Annual Meeting.

     FOR [__]              AGAINST  [__]             ABSTAIN  [__]

3.  Proposal to ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as Data I/O's
    independent auditors.

     FOR [__]              AGAINST  [__]             ABSTAIN  [__]

4.  In their discretion, the holders of this proxy are authorized  to  vote
    upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
    adjournment thereof.

                             COMMENTS/ADDRESS CHANGE
                    Please mark this box if you have written
                Comments/address change on the reverse side. [__]

The undersigned  hereby revokes any proxy or proxies  heretofore  given for such
shares and ratifies all that said proxies or their  substitutes  may lawfully do
by virtue thereof.

Signature(s)_______________________________________   Date_____________________

NOTE:  Please  sign  exactly  as name  appears on this  proxy.  If block is held
jointly, both persons should sign. Persons signing in a representative  capacity
should give their title.

                              FOLD AND DETACH HERE