Household appliances, lights and curtains can all be operated with the help of the T1 smart switch. Users can preprogramme settings and in this way activate a group of appliances by voice command, mobile phone or by pressing physical buttons. The switch can be marked with icons that match certain devices to make identification of the operated appliance quick and easy. The system also allows for customised icons and can so be adapted precisely to different requirements in a resource-efficient way.