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London (PA Media/dpa) – A woman who described herself as an “avid bookworm” before losing her sight is now able to read again and do crosswords after taking part in a world-first study. Sheila Irvine was one of the UK patients included in a clinical trial to test bionic eye implant PRIMA. The device helps those with geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced stage of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), to read and write again. A tiny 2mm by 2mm chip was fitted behind Irvine’s retina at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. She now wears augmented-reality glasses with a video camera, which the chip uses to beam information to a pocket computer. The computer processes the information into an electrical signal that is sent to the optical nerve and to the brain. Irvine said she took part in the trial to help people in the future, and can now do crosswords and read the ingredients on tins thanks to the pioneering technology. “I wanted to take part in research to help future generations, and my optician suggested I get in touch with Moorfields,” she said. “Before receiving the implant, it was like having two black discs in my eyes, with the outside distorted. I was an avid bookworm, and I wanted that back.” Irvine said she felt no pain during the operation, which took place in 2022. “I was nervous, excited, all those things,” she added. “There was no pain during the operation, but you’re well aware of what’s happening. “It’s a new way of looking through your eyes, and it was dead exciting when I began seeing a letter. It’s not simple learning to read again, but the more hours you put in, the more I pick up.” Irvine is now enjoying challenging herself with reading. “The team at Moorfields have given me challenges, like ‘look at your prescription,’ which is always tiny,” she said. “I like challenging myself, trying to look at the little writing on tins, doing crosswords. “It’s made a big difference. Reading takes you into another world, I’m definitely more optimistic.” Irvine was diagnosed with AMD more than 15 years ago but says she has not let the condition stop her life. She said: “At first, I noticed I couldn’t judge things when I was driving – I kept hitting the pavement. I was told I had age-related macular degeneration. “I cried all day long when I sent my driving licence back over 15 years ago, but then I said to myself, ‘move on and get on with things’. “I can’t see TV very well, but I still have it on in the background. I don’t let anything stop me. I’ve got lots of friends, and I socialise quite a bit, we catch up down the pub." The following information is not intended for publication pa dpa coh

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(Reuters) -The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Monday it has opened a preliminary probe into about 2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles after reports that the company's robotaxis may have failed to follow traffic safety laws around stopped school buses. The probe is the latest federal review of self-driving systems as regulators scrutinize how driverless technologies interact with pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. NHTSA said the Office of Defects Investigation opened the review after flagging a media report describing an incident in which a Waymo autonomous vehicle did not remain stationary when approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing, stop arm deployed and crossing control arm extended. The report said the Waymo vehicle initially stopped beside the bus then maneuvered around its front, passing the extended stop arm and crossing control arm while students were disembarking. A Waymo spokesperson said the company has “already developed and implemented improvements related to stopping for school buses and will land additional software updates in our next software release.” The company added "driving safely around children has always been one of Waymo's highest priorities. In the event referenced, the vehicle approached the school bus from an angle where the flashing lights and stop sign were not visible and drove slowly around the front of the bus before driving past it, keeping a safe distance from children." NHTSA said the vehicle involved was equipped with Waymo's fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS) and was operating without a human safety driver at the time of the incident. Waymo has said its robotaxi fleet numbers more than 1,500 vehicles operating across major U.S. cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Austin. The Alphabet-owned company also plans to expand internationally, with launches in cities including Tokyo and London in coming years. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Reuters) -The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Monday it has opened a preliminary probe into about 2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles after reports that the company's robotaxis may have failed to follow traffic safety laws around stopped school buses. The probe is the latest federal review of self-driving systems as regulators scrutinize how driverless technologies interact with pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. NHTSA said the Office of Defects Investigation opened the review after flagging a media report describing an incident in which a Waymo autonomous vehicle did not remain stationary when approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing, stop arm deployed and crossing control arm extended. The report said the Waymo vehicle initially stopped beside the bus then maneuvered around its front, passing the extended stop arm and crossing control arm while students were disembarking. A Waymo spokesperson said the company has “already developed and implemented improvements related to stopping for school buses and will land additional software updates in our next software release.” The company added "driving safely around children has always been one of Waymo's highest priorities. In the event referenced, the vehicle approached the school bus from an angle where the flashing lights and stop sign were not visible and drove slowly around the front of the bus before driving past it, keeping a safe distance from children." NHTSA said the vehicle involved was equipped with Waymo's fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS) and was operating without a human safety driver at the time of the incident. Waymo has said its robotaxi fleet numbers more than 1,500 vehicles operating across major U.S. cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Austin. The Alphabet-owned company also plans to expand internationally, with launches in cities including Tokyo and London in coming years. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)