By Paula Zamudio | June 21, 2017 | 12:05 p.m.

According to a 2016 survey, home automation such as home entry notifications and video monitoring is gaining in popularity among parents. Today, nearly one in four parents either uses a home automation system or plans to within one year.

The use of technology has become so prevalent that parents prefer using it to check on whats happening at home, rather than friends or neighbors. According to survey results, 73 percent of parents rely on texting to check in with teens and tweens who are home alone at least once or twice a month; 71 percent rely on phone calls, and only 18 percent rely on a friend or neighbor.

Home automation provides dependable, real-time, unfiltered information about whats happening at home.

For parents, it can provide peace of mind, especially during the summer months when kids are home alone. Parents may not realize the extent to which they are able to automate their home.

With Cox Homelife you are able to:

Lock and unlock doors from a keypad or mobile app

Detect carbon monoxide and smoke

See whats happening at home even when you are not there using secure video monitoring via a smart phone

Take a picture when the front door opens, or send a text message if the door does not open between certain times you expect your child to come home

Turn off small appliances remotely

Arm and disarm your system remotely

Turn lights on and off remotely

According to those surveyed, certain technologies are considered must haves for smart home technology:

Emergency alert, 89 percent

Home alarm control, 84 percent

Entry and lock control, 81 percent

Furthermore, four out of five parents surveyed are comfortable leaving teens and tweens home alone, and technology helps ease concerns.

Home automation isnt just for busy parents. Frequent travelers, pet lovers, energy-conscious consumers and budget managers will all find technology brings cost savings, peace of mind, remote monitoring and much more.

Click here for more information about Cox Homelife.

Paula Zamudio is a media and public relations specialist with Cox Communications.

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