| Like most people I really hated to vacuum the house. | | | | turns andgoes off in an alternate direction. If an |
| Ithought anyone who enjoyed vacuuming was close | | | | unusually dirtyarea is found the vacuum will circle until |
| to insanity. | | | | it is satisfiedthe area is sufficiently clean. This way |
| Well, I must be crazy too because I have started | | | | dusty corners ordebris such as cookie crumbs get |
| vacuumingevery few days. Why? Because I | | | | extra attention. |
| purchased a robotic vacuumcleaner. | | | | These little whirling dervishes of the vacuum world |
| All you do is place it on the floor, turn it on, and | | | | can evendeal with obstacles such as stairs, |
| pushthe clean button to start it off on its cleaning | | | | thresholds, andtransitions between different flooring |
| odyssey. Itwill circle a couple of times and then off it | | | | materials. When itencounters the top of a staircase it |
| goes aroundthe room seeking out dirt and dust. | | | | will come right to theedge, stop for a few seconds, |
| Whether the floor iscarpets, hardwood, ceramic, or | | | | make a reverse turn, and gooff in another direction. |
| tiles - it does them all withequal enthusiasm. | | | | Since purchasing a robot vacuum cleaner I have gone |
| It is not a toy or gimmick. Rather, it is part of a | | | | fromvacuuming once a week to every couple of |
| newgeneration of household equipment that will soon | | | | days. The resultsof the increased cleaning frequency |
| becomecommon. They are products that can make | | | | are quite visible. Thislittle machine has put the shine |
| decisions as to howbest to accomplish a task. Not | | | | back into my carpets. |
| quite true artificialintelligence, but definitely smart | | | | The only disadvantages I have found are minor. For |
| enough to vacuum the rugsfor you. | | | | instance,the dust storage bin is small. The bin should |
| The two preeminent manufacturers of these | | | | be emptiedafter every few uses to prevent it from |
| vacuums are | | | | becoming full. Alsothe power brush can become |
| Electrolux* and Roomba*. | | | | clogged with small bits ofdebris. This is easily |
| The Electrolux version is probably the most | | | | corrected though by disassembling thebrush and |
| sophisticated. | | | | cleaning the bristles. Roomba even provides aspecial |
| It incorporates eight ultrasonic sensors and some | | | | comb for this job. It works quite well. |
| advancedcomputer reasoning. It sends out a sound | | | | So, if like me you hate the thought of getting out |
| beam that allows itto determine where all the objects | | | | thevacuum and pushing it around the room, then |
| are located in the room. | | | | consider a robotvacuum cleaner to help you with this |
| It can even find its way back to the charger when | | | | chore. |
| the powerlevels begin to drop. Once charged, it will | | | | Ladies, do you know statistics show that 85% of |
| appear again tocontinue the cleaning. When it | | | | householdchores are done by women. So, if you ever |
| determines the room is cleanit goes back to the | | | | want to get a manto "do" (initiate may be a better |
| charger, turns around, backs into it,and turns itself | | | | term) the vacuuming thenperhaps consider |
| off. This robot vacuum has been availablein Europe | | | | introducing him to a robot vacuum cleaner. |
| for a couple of years. It appears to be the | | | | The first few times I used mine I sat for hours |
| mostcomplex of these machines and comes with a | | | | watching itoperate. I was utterly fascinated by how |
| $1795 price tag. | | | | it traversed thelabyrinth of my main floor living areas. |
| The robot vacuum cleaner I purchased is the | | | | To the extent that |
| Roomba,manufactured by the iRobot company. It is | | | | I could hardly wait for it to recharge so that I could |
| a simpler and muchless expensive version and carries | | | | startit up again. |
| a price tag ofapproximately $249. Its round shape, | | | | Here is an interesting idea. Since all men like gadgets, |
| bright colour, andflashing buttons give it a futuristic | | | | " |
| look. At three inchesin height and one foot in | | | | Why not get Dad one for fathers day ". That way |
| diameter it looks like a miniatureflying sauce as it | | | | he won'thave any excuse for not being involved with |
| scurries across the floor. | | | | the vacuuming. |
| It uses a bump-and-turn method of operation. | | | | Besides, It will pay him back for the toaster he got |
| Onceoperational it goes in a straight until it bumps | | | | you foryour birthday last year. |
| intosomething. Each time it encounters an obstacle it | | | | |