Open architecture is one solution to collecting and presenting data from heterogeneous computers. It appears to the sensor supplier that the sensor acquisition program is collecting data and writing it to the local disk. In fact, the program is writing across the network to the Server. Also, when the sensor presentation program attempts to display on the local screen, the program is displaying across the network on the Analyst's workstation. Finally, even though many different computers participate in the collection and presentation of information, it appears to the end user Analyst that everything is working seamlessly on the local platform.