User friendly interface

A method for using a wall-mounted device for sensing an environmental condition in a home environment and tracking time based on user input, said method comprising:

• detecting a rotational input motion of an outer ring that laterally surrounds a body of said device so as to form a circular lateral periphery of said device, said body having a circular cross-section and a central axis, said central axis extending generally perpendicular to a wall when said device is wall-mounted, said body further having a wall-facing rear surface and a user-facing front surface, said outer ring having an axis of rotation generally extending generally parallel to said central axis of said body, said outer ring being user-rotatable about said axis of rotation for enabling said rotational input motion, said device having a user-facing circular display component, said user-facing circular display component and said outer ring forming a user input component, said user input component being configured to be inwardly pressable along a direction generally perpendicular to said rotational input motion, wherein at least one environmental sensing component is at least partially disposed within said body of said device, wherein said device includes a communication component configured for providing wired or wireless sensing or control-related communications, wherein said device includes a processing system in operative communication with said at least one environmental sensing component, said communication component, and said user input component, wherein said processing system and said user input component are collectively configured such that each of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided, said first and second modes of operation being in effect at different times;
• during said first mode of operation,
• highlighting, based on said rotational input motion, respective ones of an arrangement of selectable menu items displayed on said user-facing circular display component;
• establishing a user selection of one of said selectable menu items upon detecting an inward pressing of said user input component while the one of said selectable menu items is highlighted;
• and
• during said second mode of operation,
• displaying, via said user-facing circular display component, visual information that is representative of a time value or a value representative of the environmental condition.

A wall-mounted device for sensing an environmental condition in a home environment and tracking time based on user input, said device comprising:

• a body having a circular cross-section and a central axis, said central axis extending generally perpendicular to a wall when said device is wall-mounted, said body having a sidewall that at least partially extends along a length of said central axis between first and second ends of said body, said sidewall having inside and outside surfaces, said inside surface at least partially defining an interior area of said body, said first end of said body being wall-facing when said device is wall-mounted, said second end of said body being user-facing when said device is wall-mounted;
• an outer ring surrounding at least a portion of said sidewall of said body, said outer ring having an axis of rotation that extends generally parallel to said central axis of said body, said outer ring being configured to be rotatable generally about said axis of rotation, said outer ring having an inner surface that faces said outside surface of said sidewall of said body, said inner surface of said outer ring having a textured portion;
• a circular circuit board at least partially disposed within said interior area of said body;
• an optical sensor mounted on said circular circuit board, said optical sensor directed away from said central axis of said body and toward said inner surface of said outer ring, said optical sensor being configured to detect movement of said texture portion of said inner surface and output corresponding electrical signals;
• a user-facing circular display component at least partially disposed within said interior area of said body and configured to display information;
• a user input component being formed by said user-facing circular display component and said outer ring, said user input component being configured to be inwardly pressable along a direction generally parallel to said central axis of said body;
• at least one environmental sensing component at least partially disposed within said interior area of said body and configured to detect at least one environmental condition;
• a communication component at least partially disposed within said interior area of said body and configured for providing wired or wireless sensing or control-related communications;
• a processing system in operative communication with said at least one environmental sensing component, said communication component, and said user input component, said processing system being programmed to interpret said electrical signals outputted by said optical sensor and determine therefrom a rotational input;
• wherein said processing system and said user input component are collectively configured such that each of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided, said first and second modes of operation being in effect at different times,
• wherein, during said first mode of operation, an arrangement of selectable menu items is displayed on said user-facing circular display component, said rotational input causing different ones of said selectable menu items to become visually highlighted, a user selection of one of said selectable menu items being established by an inward pressing of said user input component while that selectable menu item is visually highlighted, and
• wherein, during said second mode of operation, visual information is displayed on said user-facing circular display component that is representative of a time value or a value representative of the environmental condition.