It’s been quite a while since we welcomed a robot vacuum into our lives for a bit of comfort. Back then, there wasn’t much info, and the brands or models weren’t diverse. So, I picked the top model from the most recognized brand. It was quite mind-blowing at the time because it could connect to home Wi-Fi and be controlled remotely via an app.
And so, the name of our home’s first robot in the 21st century was ‘Edward.’
Though a bit noisy, seeing it start cleaning right on time was quite reassuring. Rain or shine, cloudy or snowy, Edward would push off from the charging dock and start cleaning at 9 AM every weekend. Watching it return to charge when its battery was low was almost awe-inspiring. I work pretty hard myself, but I admit, when I’m tired, I just lie down and watch YouTube or do other things. At least in terms of responsibility, Edward beats me. (Though I’m more capable) But lately, this reliable worker Edward has been…
He would get stuck in front of the shoe cabinet where there’s a step he used to avoid, sweeping and mopping the stone floor until the battery drains…
Or he’d venture into the storeroom, where a threshold used to keep him out, only to spin around hundreds of times before valiantly perishing…
Then, he’d move to the balcony next to the kitchen, polishing the floor until the battery dies out more frequently.
Once, he even cleverly sucked in my Apple Pencil, which he definitely shouldn’t have. (Shock)
Even if he manages to avoid the traps around the house and finishes cleaning, Edward often can’t find his way back to the charging dock, ending up drained in a corner of the living room or a room. This means when I return home from cycling, my routine includes picking up the abandoned Edward – annoyingly heavy – and placing him on the charging dock. It’s surprisingly complex how this makes me feel. If a mid-tempo song like Yoon Jong-shin’s ‘Temperature of Farewell’ was playing, I might even shed a tear.
It’s fascinating how machines using the same hardware and algorithms start acting like they’re senile when they get old, just like humans. It’s also astonishing that this natural order applies to digital devices we created. In a way, the universe is quite fair to everything.
Anyway, today, as I came home after a bike ride, expecting to lift the heavy Edward again…
To my delight, he had finished cleaning and was resting properly on the dock. (Heartwarming) They say there’s clarity before the end… Anyway, let’s try to live together a little longer… (Tears)
Leave a Reply