Here is the jist,, you guys are way above what we are needing here. We want to stay away from mulitplexing. Just 12 or 16 separate channels input to near this "chip to be determined" then perhaps a/d then into chip. For now just say the input is a voltage from a temp sensor (if we use the type of temp sensor that has a variable resistor that changes with temp, that gives us more or less voltage according to the change in resistivity,; and this V can be fed either straight to chip or thru voltage divider to get it down below 5 volts and then to chip or again thru a/d converter to chip. If we have 12 separate channels we don't need mulitplexing so it makes it even more simple.
For the sort , we can provide it in C . So don't worry about that.
For the output the program will need to be altered to make corresponding Vout's go high or low as the program decides.
The output from an IC chip needs to be 5 or 0 volts nothing else.
An AND gate can be used to bolster the current (wattage ) to make it able to drive a small relay.
Waiting for simple solution with diagram. We didn't mean to open the pandora's box for the most complex most exotic method.
THE CHALLENGE: Who can make this as simple as possible?

We'd like to hear what is a proposed method with diagram schematic parts list, tools needed where to get them, etc etc and not get so much complex overkill on this simple project.
YES DO IT FOR US THIS FIRST TIME on this simple project so we can learn to do it ourselves later on. THANKS> !