The White Noise Roomba

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Some people like to listen to music but those people don’t like to use headphones or earphones. The result is that you hear it, whether you want to. That’s why, sometimes, instead of using a fan for white noise, I use a roomba.

Roomba White Noise

The Roomba as white noise serves two purposes. The first is that it masks all sources of noise pollution and the second is that it covers the noise pollution from people listening to music without earphones, headphones or other.

When we all lived in houses we could all listen to music. We had thick walls separating us from neighbours, if not gardens with trees, and distance. Now, with densification, we live on top of each other, and that living on top of each other means that one person’s music is another person’s noise pollution.

If you’re focused on writing, or some other mental activity, then you are more attuned to the noise pollution. I often use a fan for white noise and if that doesn’t work then I flee, going for a walk.

Within the current context I am waiting for the car’s electrical fault to be diagnosed so I am stuck in another location. In this location I use a roomba, rather than a fan.

I suspect that Roomba hasn’t been exploring for weeks, or even months in this place. I noticed a few dead flies by a window. Roomba has now hoovered them up, and in the process provided me with the white noise I needed to write.

It’s amusing, because I’m the type to use airpods or other technology to watch TV. When I notice that I can hear neighbours I am far more careful about being quiet. I try to be sympathetic, by not imposing myself on others. I wish others thought like this.

Wall Banging

It is kind of ironic that the sound of a roomba banging against walls, chairs, and various wooden objects is more convivial than the noise of music, muffled by walls and other obstacles.

Necessary

I didn’t start a timer to see how long it is running for. In my experience if Roomba finds dirt it keeps running until it doesn’t find any, or its battery runs low. Today running Roomba is entirely justified.

And Finally

In practice fleeing to coworking spaces would be the best solution. This morning I am typing on an English UK keyboard and theoretically I have four hours of battery life. That’s convenient enough to consider using it in a coworking space, to escape noise pollution, by escaping to a place that has a different noise landscape.

In theory I will ride twenty six kilometres with a group, and then sit down, have breakfast, and after that co-work.