1. A predictive device for modeling a non-linear, causal, multiple-input single-output system or process, comprising: a plurality of preprocessing units for receiving a working signal including control data inputs, the preprocessing units normalizing the control data inputs, resulting in preprocessed inputs; a plurality of delay units coupled to the preprocessing units, the delay units time aligning the preprocessed inputs, resulting in time aligned inputs; a plurality of filter units coupled to the delay units, the filter units being of a substantially simplified configuration as compared to a configuration based upon discrete state space equations, the filter units filtering the time aligned inputs at least according to time, resulting in filtered states; a non-linear approximator coupled to the filter units and accepting the filtered states, the non-linear approximator generating a single approximator output; a postprocessing unit coupled to the non-linear approximator to receive the generated approximator output, the postprocessing unit converting the single approximator output to a single device output that represents a prediction of the output of the multiple-input single-output dynamic system being modeled by the device, and wherein the predictive device operates in a plurality of selectable modes including a configuration mode and multiple runtime modes that provide a generalized modeling of non-linear dynamic processes.