CONTROLLING A USER INTERFACE

1 . A computing device for controlling a user interface of the computing device, the computing device comprising a processor configured to:

recognise at least one target sound in a monitored environment;

determine an operating mode of the computing device that is associated with the at least one target sound; and

output content, via the user interface of the computing device, that is associated with the operating mode, wherein the content prompts a user of the computing device to perform an action using an input device of the computing device to instruct the computing device to control a controllable device in the monitored environment in response to the recognition of the at least one target sound.

2 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is a speaker coupled to said processor and the input device is a microphone of the computing device, and the content is an audio message

3 . The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to:

receive via the microphone an instruction from the user to control the controllable device; and

control the controllable device in response to receiving said instruction.

4 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is a display coupled to said processor and the content comprises at least one user selectable element.

5 . The computing device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to:

detect selection of the at least one user selectable element; and

control the controllable device in response to said selection.

6 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one target sound is a non-verbal sound.

7 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one target sound is one of a breaking glass sound, a smoke alarm sound, and a baby cry sound.

8 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the content prompts a user of the computing device to perform an action using an input device of the computing device to instruct the computing device to control a remote alarm device in the monitored environment to output an audible alarm.

9 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the content prompts a user of the computing device to perform an action using an input device of the computing device to instruct the computing device to control a lighting unit in the monitored environment.

10 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the content prompts a user of the computing device to perform an action using an input device of the computing device to instruct the computing device to control a door lock of a door in the monitored environment.

11 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the content prompts a user of the computing device to perform an action using an input device of the computing device to instruct the computing device to control a speaker in the monitored environment to play audio.

12 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is coupled to a microphone and the processor is configured to:

receive, via the microphone, an audio signal of audio in the monitored environment; and

process the audio signal to recognise the at least one target sound.

13 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a communications interface and the processor is configured to:

receive, via said communications interface, a message from a remote computing device in the monitored environment; and

recognise the at least one target sound based on receipt of said message.

14 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the content additionally prompts a user of the computing device to perform an action using an input device of the computing device to initiate a call to a remote computing device in response to the recognition of the at least one target sound.

15 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the content additionally prompts a user of the computing device to perform an action using an input device of the computing device to initiate a call to a telephone number of a contact stored in a contact list on the computing device in response to the recognition of the at least one target sound.

16 . A method of controlling a user interface of a computing device, the method comprising:

recognising at least one target sound in a monitored environment;

determining an operating mode of the computing device that is associated with the at least one target sound;

outputting content, via the user interface of the computing device, that is associated with the operating mode, wherein the content prompts a user of the computing device to perform an action using an input device of the computing device to instruct the computing device to control a controllable device in the monitored environment in response to the recognition of the at least one target sound.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one target sound is a non-verbal sound.

18 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computing device cause the computing device to perform the method of claim 16 .

19 . A computing device comprising a processor configured to:

recognise at least one target sound in a monitored environment;

determine an operating mode of the computing device that is associated with the at least one target sound; and

launch an application installed on the computing device, wherein the application is associated with the operating mode.

20 . A computer implemented method for controlling a computing device comprising:

recognising at least one target sound in a monitored environment;

determining an operating mode of the computing device that is associated with the at least one target sound; and

launching an application installed on the computing device, wherein the application is associated with the operating mode.