I’ve written about robotics before and my love of the technology so I decided this weekend to put my money where my mouth is and I bought the iRobot vacuum cleaner, Roomba. When I wrote about Asimo, the high tech Honda robot that delivered drinks most readers basically said this is "high drek" [rubbish] and not worthy of our interest. I beg to disagree. Is the Roomba more of the same? I don't think so. And no, I I’ve written about robotics before and my love of the technology so I decided this weekend to put my money where my mouth is and I bought the iRobot vacuum cleaner, Roomba.When I wrote about Asimo, the high tech Honda robot that delivered drinks most readers basically said this is “high drek” [rubbish] and not worthy of our interest. I beg to disagree. Is the Roomba more of the same? I don’t think so. And no, I didn’t get a freebie from the company and that is not why I’m sounding like an ad for the product when I say Roomba is a real piece of work, tremendous. I paid $269 at Best Buy for Model 530 and I’m glad I did.The vacuum cleaner stops itself at stairs and backs off, spirals around any area where it senses extra dirt, extends its nifty edge cleaning brush as it travels along a wall and when it is finished with a room or when it senses its rechargeable battery is running low, it makes its way back to its recharging docking station. Pricier models can be programmed to clean on a schedule.The capability of the Roomba really points to the fact that robotics is not taken seriously enough. Of course we have the Lexus and Toyota models that park themselves but why is that just about it? There are far too few robotic products out there?Imagine if just a few companies or VCs invested their time, energy, enthusiasm and dollars in robotics as they do in high tech. If they did I think we would see some amazing things. Anyone out there who knows of any unique robotic technologies under development please either put it in comments or send me an email. Technology Industry