In a first aspect, a method of controlling an appliance is provided that includes (1) employing a wearable monitor to detect a biometric parameter of a user； (2) communicating biometric parameter information from the wearable monitor to a mobile telephone of the user； (3) determining if the biometric parameter information indicates that a value of the biometric parameter has crossed a predetermined threshold； and (4) if the value of the biometric parameter has crossed the predetermined threshold, employing the mobile telephone to direct an appliance to change between a first operating condition and a second operating condition. Numerous other aspects are provided.
