Army personnel serving thousands of miles away can read a story to their children thanks to a ground-breaking iPad video app.
The separation of soldiers from their families during a tour of duty can be heart-breaking and night time bringing feelings of loneliness.
Fuzzy video chats or long distance telephone calls are often not enough to strengthen the family bond.
But four students have created Caribu, storytelling app that can be used by parent and child at the same time.
It allows parents who may be separated from their children to read the same story together, making bedtime feel special despite the distance.
The makers hope the app will appeal to military personnel deployed in the Middle East and beyond, divorced parents and faraway grandparents.
Even late-night workers struggling to reach home in time for their child's bedtime could use the app.
Mallett and friends, Phillip Linnemann, Si Dhanak and Alvero Sabido met while studying at Imperial College Business School in London.
Caribu is free to download on iTunes and it comes with a free book.
Further books can be bought for around £1.99 in the UK or $2.99 in the USA.