Remote management of electronic and electrical devices

An electronic device comprising the following:

• a microphone configured to listen for an alarm signal;
• a communications module configured to send notifications to users regarding use of an electrical device and to receive indications from users regarding management of the electrical device;
• a switch that connects or disconnects power to the electrical device;
• an electronic controller that controls the switch to connect or disconnect power to the electrical device;
• and
• a processor configured to analyze input signals and determine when to indicate to the electronic controller that the electrical device is to be turned off.

At a computer system including at least one processor, a computer-implemented method for determining the state of an alarm device, the method comprising:

• initiating a microphone to listen for a specified sound, the specified sound indicating that the alarm device is in a specified alarm state;
• determining that the specified sound has been emitted by the alarm device at least once;
• and
• notifying at least one user that the alarm device is in the specified state, allowing the user to take action to change the state of the alarm device.