Abstract: A system and a method for inputting/outputting device specific data that does not bind I/O device specific information to the application program until runtime is provided. This allows an application program developer to support a new I/O device without redesigning the application program to accommodate the new information and then compiling the new version of the application program. The system includes an Object Input/Output Manager (OIOM), a device dictionary, a plurality of I/O device modules, a plurality of I/O devices, and an I/O channel. The OIOM controls the overall flow of the system. The device dictionary and the I/O device modules contain I/O device specific information that is not known to the application program at the time it is compiled. When an application program needs to input or output device specific data, the user is presented with a list of I/O devices and selects one.