14. The method of claim 8 , wherein user access to the control of said one or more sensing or control functions of said device enables a user to lock or unlock one of said systems in said home environment.
8. A method for using a wall-mounted device for sensing and control for one or more systems in a home environment, said method comprising: detecting a user rotation of an outer ring that laterally surrounds a body of said device to form a circular lateral periphery of said device, said body having a circular cross-section, a wall-facing rear surface, and a user-facing front surface, said outer ring being user-rotatable around said body for enabling said user rotation, said device having a user-facing circular display component, said user-facing circular display component and said outer ring forming a user input component, wherein at least one environmental sensing component is disposed within said body of said device, wherein said device includes a communication component configured for providing wired or wireless sensing and/or control-related communications with said one or more systems in the home environment, wherein said device includes a processor in operative communication with said at least one environmental sensing component, said communication component, and said user input component; highlighting, based on said user rotation of said outer ring, respective ones of a circular arrangement of display elements appearing near a periphery of said user-facing circular display component; detecting an inward pressing of said outer ring, said outer ring being inwardly pressable for enabling said inward pressing; identifying as a user selection one of said display elements that is highlighted when said inward pressing of said outer ring is detected, wherein plural respective user selections of different ones of said display elements are identified responsive to repeated user rotations and/or inward pressings of said outer ring; and permitting user access to the control of one or more sensing or control functions of said device if said plural respective user selections corresponds to a password or combination.