10:50Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Google Introduces Android 17 Feature to Combat Motion Sickness in Cars
Google has launched the Motion Assist feature on Android to reduce motion sickness caused by looking at a phone in a car. The feature uses small shapes on the screen to represent the vehicle’s movement and maneuvers. This can help passengers feel more comfortable while reading text or watching videos. The new feature is similar to the Vehicle Motion Cues feature that Apple introduced with iOS 18 in 2024.
When a vehicle turns, stops or accelerates, the inner ear senses this movement. However, when the eyes look at a stationary phone screen, the brain receives a signal that there is no movement. This conflict causes dizziness and nausea in some people. Motion Assist uses the phone’s motion sensors to adjust the shapes in line with the vehicle’s maneuvers. The shapes appear along the edges of the screen and do not obstruct the content in the center. Motion Assist is available only on devices running Android 17 or later. An updated version of Google Play Services must also be installed on the phone. The feature can be tested directly on the new Pixel 11 models. Samsung smartphones require at least One UI 9. Menus may differ on devices from other brands. Therefore, it is more convenient to search for the feature by name in the settings.
To enable the feature on a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, go to the “your profile” section and then tap “All services.” You can then enable the feature from the “Personal safety and device safety” menu. The Motion Assist settings also include a “Start automatically in a moving vehicle” option. However, the sensors may not always detect the vehicle’s movement correctly. Google therefore recommends adding the feature to the quick settings menu. The color, transparency and shape of the figures can be changed in the “Customization” section. The “Random selection” setting automatically changes the colors and shapes during use. Motion Assist is intended only for passengers. Drivers should not use their phones while driving.
When a vehicle turns, stops or accelerates, the inner ear senses this movement. However, when the eyes look at a stationary phone screen, the brain receives a signal that there is no movement. This conflict causes dizziness and nausea in some people. Motion Assist uses the phone’s motion sensors to adjust the shapes in line with the vehicle’s maneuvers. The shapes appear along the edges of the screen and do not obstruct the content in the center. Motion Assist is available only on devices running Android 17 or later. An updated version of Google Play Services must also be installed on the phone. The feature can be tested directly on the new Pixel 11 models. Samsung smartphones require at least One UI 9. Menus may differ on devices from other brands. Therefore, it is more convenient to search for the feature by name in the settings. To enable the feature on a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, go to the “your profile” section and then tap “All services.” You can then enable the feature from the “Personal safety and device safety” menu. The Motion Assist settings also include a “Start automatically in a moving vehicle” option. However, the sensors may not always detect the vehicle’s movement correctly. Google therefore recommends adding the feature to the quick settings menu. The color, transparency and shape of the figures can be changed in the “Customization” section. The “Random selection” setting automatically changes the colors and shapes during use. Motion Assist is intended only for passengers. Drivers should not use their phones while driving.