GoKawiilis a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years.
Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.
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.
Here’s how it works on Apple devices. Image: Apple
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.
Google lets you set the opacity of the motion indicators and choose from a variety of shapes and colors. The feature can be configured to turn on automatically when it detects a moving vehicle, or it can be quickly toggled through a tile in your Quick Settings.
The feature hasn’t arrived yet on a pair of Pixel devices we tested. But if you’re lucky, you’ll find Motion Assist in your Google Settings under Your Profile and All Services.