NASA released the simulation for their Mars rover, and much to plenty of geeks shagrin, they were able to pilot the sim rover, and if memory serves me correct, they could even pilot it with the 10 min delay enabled. ("That cliff is about 10 mins ahead... STOP!")

What if Rescue Rangers Inc.(c)(tm) released a Rescue Rangers video game, staring the buff stylings of our favorite strippers. The object of course is to go and rescue the dying in the fastest possible time.

Now lets say you signed on for volunteer service. You could be given a digitally signed image that marks you as some kind of Arch-Corporal-Major of the Acorn and Nutt Volunteer Rescue Rangers, that you put on your website. In return, you agree that your playing sessions may be recorded, and that you may be called upon to perform an actual rescue service as a robot.

As you progressed through the game, your scores would be tracked, and the top 1% of players could be kept in a volunteer queue. When SomethingBad went down, and you were logged in, you could be transported to the scene, and work the rescue robot, and save real life humans.

Of course, right about now you are getting the fear of the pimply faced 14 yearold being in charge of saving your dying mother. But, think of it this way:

1. the system only accepts people who show consistent rescue results.
2. Pimply Faced Teenagers make really good video game players. Therefore they would play the rescue robots really well
3. This would be run as a meritocracy. You don't get to be the Over-General-Monteray-Jack without playing well, and spending HOURS in front of the thing. Which, lets face it, is what pimply faced teenagers are good at.
4. This would be used in tandem with the normal rescue-bots. So if something failed. (Ack! I got syn flooded!) then the robots normal AI could take over, and all is not lost.
5. The system pre-supposes a master-controller looking over the robots progress

Just an idea... probably not an original one.