/* changes the light or reports its status */

changeLight.ino

/* changes the light or reports its status */
String changeLight(int val) {
  /* turn light on */
  if(val== 1) {
      digitalWrite(pin, HIGH);
      lightStatus = "on";
    /* turn light off  */
  } else if(val==0) {
      digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
      lightStatus = "off";
    /* check current status of the light */
  } else if(val==-1) {
      int status = digitalRead(pin);
      if(status == 0) {
          lightStatus = "off";  
      } else if(status == 1) {
          lightStatus = "on";
      }
  }
  return lightStatus;
}