Android is getting its own weird dots to cure car sickness
Google is rolling out Motion Assist, a new Android feature designed to reduce or eliminate motion sickness when using a phone in a moving vehicle. It mirrors Apple's Motion Cues, introduced in 2024, and works by displaying moving dots on screen that counteract the mismatch between what the eyes see and what the inner ear feels, which is the root cause of car sickness when looking at a static display in a moving vehicle.
The feature, part of Android 17, uses the phone's accelerometer and gyroscope to place dots around the edge of the screen that shift in sync with the car's movements, sweeping left when the car turns right and sliding forward when it brakes. It is rolling out in phases, with some Pixel phones getting access first, and users can customise the dots' opacity, shape and colour, set them to activate automatically, or toggle them via a Quick Settings tile, though it has not yet appeared on all Pixel devices tested.
- Google adds Motion Assist to Android to combat car sickness on phones
- Moving dots mimic Apple's Motion Cues feature from 2024
- Uses accelerometer and gyroscope; rolling out first to some Pixel phones
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Motion sickness can happen when a passenger looks at a phone in a moving car. The eyes focus on a screen that seems still, while the inner ear senses the vehicle turning, speeding up or slowing down; this difference can make some people feel unwell.
Phone makers have explored ways to make screen use more comfortable during travel. Apple introduced Motion Cues in 2024, using moving marks on the display to reflect a vehicle’s movement. Google’s Android feature follows a similar approach, using the phone’s motion sensors to guide where the marks appear.
The idea matters because it could help some passengers use their phones with less discomfort. People vary in how strongly they experience motion sickness, so the feature may not work equally well for everyone.