One of the common problems facing soldiers abroad, says Bryanston-based videoconferencing company Tandberg, is being out of touch with loved ones for months at a time.
Recent advances in teleconferencing technology can help alleviate the impact this has on soldier morale, by bridging the gap between war zones and soldiers' friends and family, Tandberg says.
UK soldiers are already using video communications to stay in touch with loved ones back home.
Nato is facilitating the set-up of telepresence systems in Iraq and Afghanistan for UK soldiers, and the systems are being described as a “gift” to soldiers and a welcome boost to morale, Tandberg says.
The units each contain a screen, camera and satellite phone, and are built to withstand transport over rough terrain as well as to survive extreme weather conditions. An American charity, the Freedom Calls Foundation, is using the technology to link American troops with their families back home, according to Tandberg.
The solution has enabled troops to remotely attend milestone events like graduations, see newborn babies and even witness their children's first steps. In an extreme example, the charity has even hosted a remote wedding.
Director of Nato Communications and Information, lieutenant general Ulrich Wolf says: “Being able to give our front-line service people the impression of actually being in the same room as their loved ones many miles away, is a powerful morale booster.”
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