Direct USB control

Greetings. Newb here.
I did some searching but didn't find a conclusive answer to this question.
I am interested in using an Arduino for direct PC control of a number of digital output signals preferably via the USB interface. I will need to be able to toggle and/or latch various outputs in different combinations.
I would also like to be able to do this through a customized front end app running on the PC. At this time I don't need the Arduino to run in stand alone mode.
Is this possible? Are there any progarmming examples you could point me towards?
Thanks

Yes. See "firmata"

[

Firmata is a generic protocol for communicating with microcontrollers from software on a host computer. It is intended to work with any host computer software package. Right now there is a matching object in a number of languages. It is easy to add objects for other software to use this protocol. Basically, this firmware establishes a protocol for talking to the Arduino from the host software. The aim is to allow people to completely control the Arduino from software on the host computer.

](http://firmata.org/wiki/Main_Page)

I would also like to be able to do this through a customized front end app running on the PC.

You would need to develop your pc application to communicate with the arduino via the serial port.