1. See http://mydsondemand.com/gettingstarted_robotics for some thoughts on how you can mash telemetry and "robots" into mydigitalspace onDemand.

Vry useful for manufacturing type solutions - eg get direct information from a production line about orders complete or send a command to a warehouse system to pick an order based on a new customer order being placed or may be a supplier order to a supplier based on a "parts bin" getting to a certain level.

2. Also see http://pusher.com for how you can make your application real-time using Websockets "push" framework.  Great for messaging solutions - eg new order for in-field service person.