1. A method comprising: centrally maintaining, by at least one computer, a universe of data, the universe of data being accessible as a plurality of logical entities; wherein the centrally maintaining comprises mapping, via a handler resident on the at least one computer, the universe of data to the plurality of logical entities according to a universal representation format; wherein each logical entity of the plurality of logical entities belongs to one of a plurality of logical-entity types defined by the universal representation format; wherein each logical entity of the plurality of logical entities encapsulates logically-related data selected from the universe of data; accessing, by the at least one computer via the handler, at least a portion of the universe of data as one or more logical entities of the plurality of logical entities; and transmitting, by the at least one computer, the one or more logical entities to an interface application for rendering on a user interface according to the universal representation format, the interface application being configured according to the universal representation format.