Study Says: People LOVE Roombas (A Lot)

Do you luuuuuv your Roomba? A recent study from Georgia Tech argues that Roomba-love is sweeping the nation. Researcher Ja-Young Sung says, "Our findings suggest that, by developing intimacy to the robot, our participants were able to derive increased pleasure from cleaning, and expended effort to fit Roomba into their homes, and shared it with others."

Some of the trends that the study reports:
• People like to name their Roombas.
• Many people pre-clean the floors for their Roombas.
• Some users view their Roombas as "pets."
• A few users dress up their Roombas.

The really interesting question that the study raises has to do with "emotional design" - the theory that the way an object is designed can impact the emotional response of the user.

We don't own a Roomba, so we're wondering if those of you who own one can fill us in on the emotional appeal.

Some insights from AT threads:
• New from iRobot: Roomba 360
• Scooba by iRobot
• AT Survey: The Roomba

Comments (6)

While I do like our Roomba very much, my husband has been clear that giving it a name or a wardrobe would be grounds for divorce.

Never having to vacuum is reason enough for love. I couldn't do without mine.

I'm asking for one for Christmas.

I'm a Roomba owner, and a Roomba lover. My Roomba, however, does not have a name.

I think the love, and especially the pet-like thoughts, probably comes from how it moves about the room. It's kind of nice and calm, bumping gently into a wall with an "oops" kind of bump (its front panel sort of recoils). It even gets itself a little stuck sometimes, swiveling and turning a little in a really enclosed spot, like under a chair. I find myself engrossed by the logical struggle out, and cheering when it wins and gets out - and I've owned mine for a few years now!

Also, I run it while I'm gone, and I start it right as I'm leaving the house. There's something humanizing about the thought of something cleaning up while you're away - like leaving a kid with a chores list (which I don't have the advantage of).

And now I just went on and on about my Roomba and what's so enamoring about it! I guess I'm in love enough to give it a name :)

Oh and also, when I come home from work, it's done with a room and it's sparkling clean. And there the Roomba sits, in the middle of the room, a little beep coming out here and there. And I go over, pick it up, empty it out, and carry it to the charger and plug it back in. Like taking a dog for a walk!!!

I loved my roomba, but now I feel like a jilted lover. Contrary to everything I've said to my friends and family about robots, THEY ARE PIECES OF JUNK and I'm so irritated at that company right now. They don't do out-of-warrantee-repairs, you have to buy a whole new one. They don't last more than a year. GARBAGE. But they do make for fun videos with cats. If you have a cat you want to humilate, get one. Otherwise, if you want a reliable cleaning machine, get a Miele vacuum; don't waste your money on the novelty of a poorly built i-robot.