1. A method of operating a control system of the type having a control apparatus comprising one or more control/sensing devices, the method comprising the steps of A. executing a program that configures a digital data processor as a process controller for monitoring and/or controlling the control apparatus, the program comprising any of (i) a JAVA applet, (ii) an intermediate language program, (iii) a byte code program, (iv) a downloaded program that executes in a virtual machine environment, (v) a program that executes in a web browser, B. responding to a request for a data value associated with the control apparatus by transmitting to the digital data processor that data value and one or more subsequent changes thereto.