An apparatus receives real time input of sensor information from a plurality of different sources with different interfaces, converts the format of the sensor information into a format compatible with a computer, and transmits the converted sensor information to the computer. The apparatus comprises a plurality of collectors respectively coupled to the sensors for receiving the sensor information. A scan generator is coupled to the collectors and selects each of the collectors for input of the respective sensor information en route to the computer. The scan generator provides timing signals to control the input of the sensor information from each of the collectors. A converter receives the sensor information from the collectors and convert the formats of the sensor information to a format compatible with the computer. Each of the collectors transmits the respective sensor information to the converter based on timing signals provided by the scan generator but receives the sensor information from the respective sensors independent of the scan generator timing signals. Thus, the sensor input is not limited in either format or timing. After the converted sensor information is input to the computer, a server program which is executing within the computer and has knowledge of the original format of the sensor information from each source and the nature of the conversion, converts the converted sensor information back into the original format. Then, a user application program which is also executing within the computer receives the sensor information in its original format which is the expected format.