iRobot introduced two robots today. The first was the gutter-cleaning Looj. The second robot, ConnectR is a little machine looks like a Roomba. Instead of sweeping your floor, it has a camera and microphone. iRobot says that it "enables today's busy families and individuals to be virtually in two places at once."

The ConnectR's purpose is to scoot around, following your family, while a far-off parent or grandparent watches, hears, and chats with the family remotely. Instead of spinning randomly and bouncing off of the walls, the ConnectR is controlled by a remote, or remotely via the internet. We would call it a spy bot, but it's neither small nor subtle, which is the point: you don't want to be invisible to your children while you're away on business, just to look like a round red vacuum cleaner. More images after the jump.

UPDATE: The ConnectR even has a "personality" button! You can make a light shine different colors (red for angry!) depending on your mood. It also has two cameras, a wide angle one for navigating the floors, and a super-zoom lens for reading books to your kids. Creepy! The ConnectR will cost a hefty $499 when it comes out. Right now consumers can try to join hte machine's pilot program and purchase it for $199.

— S.E. Kramer

Via iRobot

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