Abstract: A control system for an electronic data processing system minimizes hardwiring and specialized components and circuits and provides bidirectional communication between a data processor within the data processing system and an operator via intermediary binary digital input and output words. A separate aspect is the provision of a master control panel configuration including means for receiving input and output elements having generalized identities, in conjunction with encoder and decoder means interposed in the circuitry and reducing the interconnections between the panel and the data processing system. The control system converts the status of selector switches and momentary switches to signals representing an intermediary input word. The data processor processs and interprets the signals representing the input word and generates appropriate system responses.