A method for configuring a user interface of a controlling device application of a smart device, comprising: receiving at the smart device from a Universal Control Engine in communication with the smart device and a controllable appliance, information retrieved from the controllable appliance by the Universal Control Engine, the information comprising data for use in causing an icon representative of the controllable appliance to be added to the user interface of the controlling device application; and using the information received from the Universal Control Engine by the smart device to cause an icon representative of the controllable appliance to be automatically added to the user interface of the controlling device application, the added icon being selectable to provide further access via use of the user interface of the controlling device application to user interface elements which are selectable to initiate control of one or more controllable functions of the controllable appliance via one or more communications issued from the smart device to the Universal Control Engine, wherein the user interface elements which are selectable to initiate control of one or more controllable functions of the controllable appliance via one or more communications issued from the smart device to the Universal Control Engine made available in response to a selection of the icon added to the user interface of the controlling device application of the smart device comprises user interface elements for placing at least the controllable appliance into a desired state for use in connection with an activity, wherein the information retrieved from the controllable appliance by the Universal Control Engine further comprises data representative of a capability supported by the controllable appliance, wherein the data representative of a capability supported by the controllable appliance comprises data representative of an interface connection type of the controllable appliance, wherein the smart device causes a user interface element for an activity that uses the interface connection type of the controllable appliance to be automatically added to the user interface of the controlling device application of the smart device, and wherein the smart device causes a macro command sequence to be automatically created for the activity that uses the interface connection type of the controllable appliance automatically added to the user interface of the controlling device application of the smart device, the macro command sequence being executed in response to a selection of the user interface element for the activity. receiving at the smart device from a Universal Control Engine in communication with the smart device and a controllable appliance, information retrieved from the controllable appliance by the Universal Control Engine, the information comprising data for use in causing an icon representative of the controllable appliance to be added to the user interface of the controlling device application; and using the information received from the Universal Control Engine by the smart device to cause an icon representative of the controllable appliance to be automatically added to the user interface of the controlling device application, the added icon being selectable to provide further access via use of the user interface of the controlling device application to user interface elements which are selectable to initiate control of one or more controllable functions of the controllable appliance via one or more communications issued from the smart device to the Universal Control Engine, wherein the user interface elements which are selectable to initiate control of one or more controllable functions of the controllable appliance via one or more communications issued from the smart device to the Universal Control Engine made available in response to a selection of the icon added to the user interface of the controlling device application of the smart device comprises user interface elements for placing at least the controllable appliance into a desired state for use in connection with an activity, wherein the information retrieved from the controllable appliance by the Universal Control Engine further comprises data representative of a capability supported by the controllable appliance, wherein the data representative of a capability supported by the controllable appliance comprises data representative of an interface connection type of the controllable appliance, wherein the smart device causes a user interface element for an activity that uses the interface connection type of the controllable appliance to be automatically added to the user interface of the controlling device application of the smart device, and wherein the smart device causes a macro command sequence to be automatically created for the activity that uses the interface connection type of the controllable appliance automatically added to the user interface of the controlling device application of the smart device, the macro command sequence being executed in response to a selection of the user interface element for the activity.