Robots: No Longer Wishful Thinking
Written by: Tom Sawyer
There was a time when the promise of robots was often talked about, but it never seemed to work out the way we thought. This is similar to the space-age look our vehicles are supposed to have – we are supposed to be flying in our vehicles by now right? No longer wishful thinking, robots are becoming useful, and affordable, for us all.
I don’t necessarily have to run the vacuum anymore. Thanks to the Roomba 560 our floors can be vacuumed daily without lifting a finger. I will say right now, the Roomba probably doesn’t do as good a job as a Kenmore upright or similar vacuum, but that isn’t the point. Let’s be honest, many people work long hours, have kids or other activities. This doesn’t leave time every day to get out the vacuum.
I have the Roomba programmed to start automatically and so far it seems to be working out pretty well. With seven time slots and virtual wall modules, we can make sure the house is vacuumed with little effort – the only thing we have to do is move the virtual wall modules so the Roomba will vacuum every room.
What about the kitchen floor? The Roomba 560 will sweep the kitchen floor too, but if it needs to be mopped we aren’t busting out a mop and bucket. The Scooba 5800 handles mop duty in our house. It will sweep prior to mopping and will dry the floor after mopping. Both the Roomba and Scooba are welcomed additions to our house.
You are probably wondering what this weird-looking contraption is. This is the Rovio and I’m going to keep my eye on this little fella. The Rovio is a mobile robot web camera with omni-directional movement ability thanks to its unique tri-wheel design.
The Rovio will patrol your house with pinpoint accuracy; it will always know where it is and where you want it to go next. The Rovio will return to its base to recharge and if knocked off its course it will immediately right itself. You don’t have to worry about the dog or cat messing with the Rovio!
The built-in web camera has full audio and video streaming capability so you can spy on your home from anywhere in the world as long as you have a web connection. Imagine being anywhere in the world with the ability to see what is going on in your home or receiving an email with still pictures of your house.
I will admit the Rovio isn’t as practical as the Roomba, but it is cool technology and I love technology. I would think the next step would be an outdoor Rovio that patrols your yard at night. Wouldn’t it be cool to have your outdoor Rovio shine a light on any dubious activity going on in the back yard? I like it!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Obviously nobody rememebers what happened in the Terminator series. THE COMPUTERS BECAME SELF AWARE!!!!!!! IS THIS SKYNET????
November 17th, 2008 at 7:34 am
No, the only thing I want these robots to be aware of is dirt on the floor.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:49 am
A robot that mops? Shut up! I knew one vacuumed, but mopping? Surely there is one that dusts? I need that one for my Aunt. Please send me the link of the robot that cooks! Seriously! I will sell many of my personal belongings to afford that one!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I’ll tell you what if they make one that will do the dishes and clean the bathroom, I’ll be the first in line. I wonder when husbands/wives will become obsolete since we can get the robots to do the cleaning.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Aaron, isn’t that so true about Skynet?????LOL!
November 17th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I would be willing to bet that we aren’t too far away from being able to put ingredients into some contraption and it will do the rest.
I think dusting will be handled by improved heating/air conditioning that will keep dust from being in the house/apartment to begin with.
November 17th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
It is so true!!!! I’m scared my computer might jump of my desk and attack me!
November 17th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Did you ever see that movie Demon Seed? It came out in the late 70s, early 80s. It was about a home computer system that began to think on its own and locks its owner in the house and terrorizes her? Between that movie and the Sarah Connor Terminator Chronicles, the evolution of computers may eventually reflect life imitating art instead of art imitating life.
November 17th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I guess I just need to turn to Pizza Hut for the cooking part huh?
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