"Self-Propelled" technology has recently hit the vacuum industry by storm. Self-propelled vacuum cleaners have transmissions that power forward and reverse movements more easily. As such, they are much easier to push when running. Nonetheless, they can often be heavier and more difficult to lift than non self-propelled units. If you have a single story home with mostly carpeting, a self-propelled vacuum may be something to consider. Examples of self-propelled vacuums would be the Hoover WindTunnel and the Dirt Devil Vision. Self Propelled Vacuum Cleaner