1. A digital storage medium for use with a computer system, comprising: a back end program component for causing the computer system to produce a back end object representative of a functional unit according to a standardized set of functions and parameters, said back end object possessing functional unit specific information; and a front end software program component for causing the computer system to produce a front end object responsive to requests from software applications to perform functions and set parameters of said back end object irrespective of functional unit specific information, wherein said front end uses said back end object according to a standardized set of functions and parameters.