Wednesday, April 25, 2012

V is for Vacuum or why I love my Roomba


R2 D2 is a valued member of our household.  He is a robotic vacuum cleaner called Roomba.  It's hard not to think of R2 as somehow human as he industriously works hard to clean the floors and rugs of our house.


I was skeptical at first, thinking the Roomba was just a gadget which would not do a good job of cleaning, but I was amazed.  He does do a credible job of cleaning and is entertaining while he works, as watching R2D2 as he sweeps back and forth, is mesmerizing.  And I gave him a name, R2D2 which I do for inanimate objects that I am fond of.  I read that there is a web-site that sells clothes for Roombas, but I am not quite ready for that.  


The above illustration is from the Wall Street Journal, 4/21/12.


Roombas use software that was originally developed for Naval mine sweepers and the Roomba directions encourage you to think of other ways to use Roomba, but I am barely able to function in the A-Z Challenge, never mind creating new software.  I will just allow R2D2 to do the job he was designed for while I watch him work or read the paper or do other things, happy knowing someone or something else is cleaning my house and I am not.


The video from You Tube shows another use for Roombas.



25 comments:

  1. I've always wondered about these. I love my vacuum but since I have pets I have a dyson knockoff

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    1. I heard the Dysons were good. R2D2 has a special sweeping brush that works well with pet hair, but the one in the video with this blog does not have one.

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  2. i have seen them--i have a hard time thinking they would do a good job--but better than me

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    1. Techy and gadget people really like them; I knew my husband would like Roomba and he does; he handles the whole operation.

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  3. I love the video. It's tempting - not sure how it would work on my floors (tile and carpet) - and with dogs. They might attack it!

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    1. Try it out. Take it back to the big "C' store if it doesn't work. Don't know about the dogs, but R2D2 with the special brush works really well, I hear.

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  4. When I saw "Roomba" the title of your post I thought it was some new form of dance exercise that you did while cleaning. I was impressed! LOL

    But I'm even more impressed with this cool gadget. I've seen them before but never thought about getting one because I figured they probably didn't work. I'll have to rethink that. :)

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  5. Super "E." If you are busy and are away part of the day, it really works well. Just set it up in one room, and leave the house. It will not fall down stairs either.

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  6. Visiting from A to Z. I enjoyed this post, but it does worry me to think of mine sweep technology being used in the home. I guess the obvious connection of "sweep" was too much for engineers to keep to themselves.

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    1. I agree, if you really think about it and you could re-program the Roomba. . .hmmm.

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  7. Clothes for the Roomba? That is too much. Really. Wish I had one of my own.


    Sonia Lal @ Story Treasury

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  8. I am glad yours works for you, my friends got one 4 years ago and said it didn't clean so well (maybe a different model). The kitty video is precious!

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  9. Thank you. I have heard both negative and positive remarks about the R. You have to clean the container that holds the dirt every time after you clean a room. If you don't, the "eye" gets clouded and does not work as well.

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  10. I thought that they were too good to be true, but I'm glad yours works so well! Happy vacuuming! Julie

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  11. I love the name "R2D2" for a Roomba! If I ever get one, that's what I'm naming it. :)

    And I'm sure our cats would have just as much fun with one as the one in the video did.

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    1. I name the inanimate ojects I like, I know it's silly, just wait until our "Z" assignment. Dogs seem to be threatened by the Roomba, not cats.

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  12. loved that you blogged on something we all have wondered about the Roomba! I think its a great gadget and a great V post. Thanks for your visit today.

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    1. You inspire me, Debra Harris. I will be checking in even after the challenge.

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  13. Friends have one and say they vacuum themselves about once a month. I loved the cat video, that was great.

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  14. Those are pretty cool little machines. My sister got one and she liked it so much she got one for my mother. They are fun to watch.


    Lee
    Please help me reach 100 followers at:
    A Few Words
    An A to Z Co-host blog
    My Main blog is Tossing It Out

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    1. I am on "A Few Words." I need all the help I can get, Lee, I do find your AFW blog inspirational.

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  15. Wow! You have one? You're so lucky/fortuitious.

    http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.com/

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  16. We called our first Roomba Felicity but when she got old and tired we replaced her with a larger-capacity Roomba we call Veronica. Our cat doesn't sit on her but sometimes one of the dogs sets her going - alarming to them and us!

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  17. great post! very funny!

    xxo
    MOV

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