Combining a cheap netbook and an iRobot Create, you can create your own video chat robot for around $500 that lets you move around distant places as if you were walking around. These are sometimes known as telepresence robots and cost several thousand dollars.



More information about this project and links to download the software can be found at:

http://procrastineering.blogspot.com/2011/02/low-cost-video-chat-robot.html