Most 16x2 alphanumeric LCD displays work the same way. They use one of many pin-compatible chips (for example, HD44780, KS0066, SED1278 or ST7066), and the only real difference is what "special characters" they have programmed in their ROM.

In the book "Practical Electronics for Inventors" the authors describe how you can use these by programming the signals by hand. This was a useful exersize to learn how these displays work.