Question

The Gift of Sight
News: Technology

For most of his life, Jeff Regan saw the world in a blur. He was born with low vision. But in 2013, Regan tried on a headset made by a company called eSight. With these electronic glasses on, he can read a newspaper. He can make out the faces of his coworkers across a room. He can also go to plays. He doesn't have to guess what people around him are seeing.

Although eSight's headset won't help people with total blindness, it could help millions of people with impaired vision that can't be corrected with ordinary lenses. The headset works by transmitting images from a forward-facing camera to small screens inside the device. There's one screen for each eye. The screens can be moved so that the user has the best view of the video. Thus, the images can be beamed into the wearer's peripheral, or side, vision.

According to the World Health Organization, 246 million people worldwide have "low vision." This means they have medium to severe visual impairment. Some of these people are legally blind. The new glasses from eSight could help.

Other companies are also trying to help people with low vision. Their glasses have cameras attached, too. But most of these companies' designs work differently from the eSight headset. They don't magnify live video. Instead, they take still images. Then, a computerized voice tells the wearer about what he or she is not able to see. Sam Markowitz is a professor at the University of Toronto. He says that eSight's glasses are the best choice for people with low vision. The glasses can improve both near and far vision.

But eSight still has work to do. It must prove that the glasses are safe. It must also show that they work well. To do that, the company is running tests. Markowitz said that, so far, the biggest problem seems to be that a person could trip and fall if wearing the headset while walking. That's because the device covers the eyes. It's meant to be used while sitting or standing still.

The headset isn't cheap. The second model of the headset cost $15,000. The third model came out in February 2017. It sells for about $10,000. This model is the most helpful. It magnifies the video feed more. There's a hand control for adjusting brightness and contrast. It also has a more powerful camera.

As of February 2017, eSight had sold only about 1,000 headsets. But users say the device has changed their view of the world. Take Yvonne Felix, for example. She says the headset let her see the faces of her husband and two sons for the first time. People of all ages have tried the headsets. Jeff Regan also loves his headset.

"These glasses have made my life so much better," said Regan.

Information for this story came from AP.

Question 8


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Based on the Article, which is most likely to happen next?

Headsets from eSight and other companies will become less expensive and more popular among people with low vision.
Sam Markowitz will warn people with low vision not to use the eSight headset.
Legally blind people will discover that using the headset allows them to do everything that a person with perfect vision might do.
The eSight company will stop making headsets because someone could trip and fall.

Answer 1

Headsets from eSight and other companies will become less expensive and more popular among people with low vision.

Reason: The article notes a price drop (from $15,000 to about $10,000 for the newer model), growing improvements and features, and users' positive reports. It also says the device could help millions with low vision, making wider adoption likely.