Android's Motion Assist uses moving dots to ease motion sickness

Google is rolling out Motion Assist, an Android 17 feature that leverages the device's accelerometer and gyroscope to display animated dots that move with the vehicle's motion, reducing or eliminating motion sickness. The feature, which is being phased out to Pixel phones first, mirrors Apple's Motion Cues introduced in 2024. The article notes that the technology has proven effective in real-world use, enabling the author to work while riding in a car.

The feature operates by reading the device's built-in accelerometer and gyroscope to detect vehicle movement, then shifting peripheral dots in opposition to that motion—a right turn sweeps dots leftward, while braking pushes them forward. Google provides customization options including dot opacity, shape, and color, along with two activation modes: automatic detection of vehicle movement or manual toggling via a Quick Settings tile.

Motion Assist arrives as part of Android 17, initially reaching select Pixel devices in a phased rollout, with the setting located in Google Settings under Your Profile and All Services. The Verge's deputy editor, who lives in a van and frequently works from the passenger seat, reports the technology genuinely eliminates nausea, and notes his wife has also become a convert after testing it.