// THE VERGE — MOBILE & WEB
Android is getting its own weird dots to cure car sickness
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The anti-nausea tech that really works, at least on Apple devices.
The anti-nausea tech that really works, at least on Apple devices.
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Google is rolling out a new Android feature that’s been proven to reduce, or even eliminate, motion sickness when using a phone inside a moving vehicle. Dubbed Motion Assist by Google, it’s very similar to Apple’s Motion Cues, first introduced in 2024. The Android 17 feature appears to be rolling out in phases, with some Pixel phones getting it first, according to Android Authority.
The science behind these magic dots is sound, and addresses the motion sickness felt when staring at a static display while the inner ear feels the car turning, braking, and accelerating. Motion Assist taps into your device’s accelerometer and gyroscope to place dots around the periphery of the display that move in harmony with the motion of the car. When the car turns right, the dots sweep across the screen to the left; when the car brakes, the dots slide forward.
I’m here to tell you that this tech really works. As an avid vanlifer, I’m often working on my MacBook and iPhone from the passenger seat while we drive to the next destination. But that’s only possible by activating the anti-nausea feature, otherwise I can’t stomach it. My wife is a convert, too.