This year, one of the hottest holiday gift ideas isn't a toy for kids - it's a robot for grown ups called Roomba™, the new intelligent floor vac from iRobot that cleans floors all by itself, giving you more time to do other things.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021119/NYFNSA04)

Now, more than ever before, people value their free time, which is why innovative products that simplify life's everyday tasks are this year's popular gift giving trend. Roomba™ Intelligent FloorVac is the first floor appliance to deliver the promised conveniences of advanced robotics technology (at the affordable consumer price of $199.95).

According to iRobot's CEO, Colin Angle, "There hasn't been an appliance as liberating as this since the dishwasher which makes it the perfect holiday gift for the home. Everyone, from busy Moms to grandparents will appreciate having a cleaner home with less time and effort."

At the touch of a button, Roomba™ automatically cleans all types of floor surfaces, including carpet, tile, hardwood and linoleum. You simply place it in the middle of the room, turn it on, select the room size and walk away. Guided by infrared sensors, Roomba avoids falling down stairs and cleans around furniture without getting stuck.

Roomba™ weighs less than six pounds, yet is powerful enough to get the entire floor clean. It can even clean under kick-boards in the kitchen, and underneath beds or furniture less than four inches off the floor. A spinning side brush thoroughly cleans next to walls and hard-to-reach places. Roomba™ comes with an invisible infrared "wall" to keep it from crossing open areas as wide as 15 feet. One charge of the included NiMH battery provides enough power to clean up to three medium-size rooms.

Roomba™ is available for $199.95 (SRP) at Brookstone, The Sharper Image and Hammacher Schlemmer.

About iRobot

iRobot has a long commitment to advancing the robotics industry and over the past 12 years has developed technology and built numerous products for the U.S. military, law enforcement, energy, industrial cleaning and toy industries, and now the consumer marketplace. Roomba was recently named one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2002. For additional information about Roomba and iRobot visit www.irobot.com

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EDITORS NOTE: Angle is available for interviews; product available for
review or demo

SOURCE: iRobot