I thank you for clicking my link. I don't want to go into to much detail because i don't want the idea stolen. What i need is function 1 an arduino/arduinos to take in 14 inputs and be able to put out 14 different outputs. function 2 is for it to have a counter based on inputs like button push. function 3 would be like a stopwatch function for all inputs to be put to on or off state. ideal would be for it to have a reset and mode select buttons for input and i would like to run 2 segment displays for the counting function to display button press. i understand that this may not be possible. I would prefer to discuss specifics privately in pm or email. I thank you in advanced for you help and incite in this matter.
That's definitely all doable but perhaps not in the way you were thinking.
It might be better to sequence the inputs so that a binary word of data comes across multiple ports at once, gets taken in and then another "word" is brought in from a different source. Using up all the pins on an arduino can be tough because some may need to be dedicated for other functions (like interrupts or PWM). And Speaking of PWM - you could off load some of the horsepower to an LED driver chip for your display, relieving the Arduino from calculating much of the LED stuff.
You might want to look at the MEGA arduino for sheer port numbers (the Sanguino board is also a favorite) and it will give you that extra memory for a larger program as well.
If you don't want to use a Mega you could try an I/0 expander. (It's like a grill-stretcher that restaurant cooks use when the grill is full of hamburgers)
function 1 an arduino/arduinos to take in 14 inputs and be able to put out 14 different outputs. function 2 is for it to have a counter based on inputs like button push. function 3 would be like a stopwatch function for all inputs to be put to on or off state. ideal would be for it to have a reset and mode select buttons for input and i would like to run 2 segment displays for the counting function to display button press.
- function 1 an arduino/arduinos to take in 14 inputs and be able to put out 14 different outputs.
Okay - function 2 is for it to have a counter based on inputs like button push.
Okay 14 counter variables.
Counts how many times button has been pushed? - function 3 would be like a stopwatch function for all inputs to be put to on or off state.
Okay 14 registers counter variables
Shows accumulated time that the input is ON. - function to reset the registers
Okay. - 2DIGIT diplays, for each input.
14 x 2 x 7segment displays= 196displays, or a 16x4 LCD could be a possibility.
Definitely need an expander.
Tom...... 
Question, are you just passing the input logic straight to the output , or are there times input HIGH will not produce a output HIGH and viceversa?
If you are only monitoring the 14 channels and not modifying the output from input then directly control output with hardware from the input.
This way will save you 14 outputs which can be re-assigned inputs or to other outputs