For iRobot, the Future Is Getting Closer

Name: Jonathan
Posting #2
Topic: Tech
Title  For iRobot, the Future Is Getting Closer
Publication Name: CNN
Date of Publication: March 2nd, 2012
Author: Christopher Drew
Length: 760 words
IRobot has emerged as one of the nation's top robot makers. It has sold millions of disc-shaped Roomba vacuum cleaners, and its bomb disposal robots have protected soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. In January, iRobot expanded a partnership with InTouch Health, a small company that enables doctors at computer screens to treat stroke victims and other patients from afar.
Mr. Angle, 44, who has been at the forefront of robotics since he was a student. He estimates that the early versions of Ava will cost in the tens of thousands of dollars, high enough that the company is focusing first on medical applications with InTouch Health. InTouch has robots with video hookups in many hospitals, and they have saved many lives in emergencies. Mr. Angle says that he thinks that businessmen could use the robots as proxies at meetings, speaking and watching wirelessly through Ava's headgear and even private chats.
 I think that iRobots are very useful in our society, and that they can help people. InTouch robots can apply not only to medical but also to business. Those robots can make our lives easier as proxies for meetings, speaking and chats.