Google’s Motion Assist feature rolling out to fight car sickness
Google is rolling out a new feature to reduce motion sickness in cars, but it's currently only available on specific Pixel devices.
The update
Google is rolling out a new feature called Motion Assist to help reduce motion sickness while using a phone in a moving vehicle. The feature uses moving shapes and patterns that respond to the phone’s movement, syncing with the vehicle’s motion to help the brain process the visual information correctly.
Why it matters
Motion sickness occurs when there is a mismatch between what the inner ear senses and what the eyes see. By providing visual cues that match the vehicle’s movement, this feature aims to alleviate that confusion and reduce nausea. The feature is similar to Apple’s Motion Cues, which has been reported to be effective for many users.
What to watch
Currently, the feature is rolling out to Pixel devices running Android 17. It is expected to expand to more devices in the coming weeks. Users can check if the feature is available in their settings under “Personal & device safety.” The feature can be activated manually or set to turn on automatically when in a moving vehicle.
Sources
- zdnet.com — Feature description, availability on Pixel devices, and how to access settings.
- arstechnica.com — Technical explanation of how the feature works and customization options.