Sophisticated Storage Question about Storage Controller

How exactly is the Storage controller supposed to work? Seems like you can use it to connect storage blocks using the pipe mod or some equivalent but without any real means of an interface does it allow for items to be pulled out? Do items then need to be pumped out of it by some means?

If you can pump items to and from the storage network using this block, but have to use another mod as an interface then what's the point? Sorry if it's confusing, there's no coverage on how the controller works.