HAHIRA, GA (WALB) - On this day when we celebrate our nation's independence, we also should remember all those Americans serving our country now to protect our freedom.
Deployed troops have tough jobs and a lot to worry about, including their families back home.
But thanks to modern technology, there are more ways to keep families connected.
Airman Brandon Hodges may have been thousands of miles away in the United Arab Emirates, but he was still connected to his children. "I was actually deployed in a different country and I was able to watch my children play in the living room through my phone and on my computer," said Hodges.
With the help of Vivint home automation, Hodges was able to turn his house into a smart home.
"We do home animation products and home alarm system products. We do a lot of light controls and thermostats and door locks and then the home security system also," said Field Service Professional Shannon Bailey.
"For example if one of my childrens' windows are open, me and my wife are alerted via text on our phones, via email if we aren't by our phones, and we can also have a light come on and have a video camera start to record all at the same time just from one window being open," said Hodges.
Hodges says knowing his kids were happy and safe kept him at ease while in the field. "We'd have our scheduled Skype calls, but you know it's real formal. You guys are set up in front of a camera and me just being able to watch them play around the house is very comforting."
Bailey says while the products are complex, the instructions are not. "Technology wise they're extremely advanced, but when it comes to user wise it's extremely user friendly. They are simple, simple, simple products."
Hodges says the product helps troops like him not have to imagine the worst. "I can check my camera and make sure everything is ok so it was like I was home in a way."
Hodges says while the home automation products were great while he was overseas, he's happy that for this July 4th, he does not have to use them.
According to a study done by ABI research, about 90 million homes will be automated in the next five years.
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Airman Brandon Hodges controls his home from his computer.
Shannon Bailey
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