Suresh Purini wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@z24g2000prh.googlegroups.com:
a) I want some kind of primitive actuator controlled via some
> microcontroller to switch on the rice cooker. Do you have any
> suggestions for the actuators and microcontrollers which I can use.
Uness your cooker has a push button micro control, you can leave it on and have a relay of some sort control power to it.
b) What kind of transmitting (at the computer end) and receiving
> devices (at the rice cooker end) I can use.
I suggest using pre-existing home autiomation control systems.
If not, a simple microcontroller from serial or USB, or direct paralell port control of a relay.