Abstract: An object oriented framework architecture for sensing and/or control environments includes a set of sensing and/or control subsystems; a framework and interface system; a network; and a managing server system. The framework and interface system includes signal exchange modules that communicate with sensing and/or control elements; an expansion bus; and a client computer system. A framework services module within the client computer system retrieves configuration information that characterizes signal exchange modules. The framework services module automatically configures hardware interface modules for communicating with signal exchange modules, and maps signal exchange modules' hardware signals to corresponding events. An event may include an event identifier and a data value. The framework services module exchanges events with application software withinin the managing server system, and exchanges hardware signals with signal exchange modules monitoring or controlling sensing and/or control elements.