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Google is getting its own weird dots to cure car sickness

Google is rolling out a new Android feature called Motion Assist that reduces or eliminates motion sickness when using a phone inside a moving vehicle.

By Thomas Ricker·Aug 25·theverge.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

Motion-Assist-Pixel-11-1-647w-1440h
Motion-Assist-Pixel-11-1-647w-1440hImage: theverge.com

Google's new Android feature, Motion Assist, uses dots on the screen to move in harmony with the motion of the car, reducing or eliminating motion sickness.

Why it matters

This feature is important for people who use their phones while driving or in other moving vehicles, as it can help reduce motion sickness and improve their overall experience.

Imagine you're in a car and you're looking at your phone. The car is moving, but your phone screen is not. This can make you feel sick. Google's new feature, Motion Assist, helps with this by adding dots to the screen that move with the car. This helps your body and eyes feel like they're in sync, making it easier to use your phone while driving.

Analysis

The Science Behind Motion Assist

Motion Assist is based on the science of motion sickness, which occurs when the inner ear feels the motion of the car while the eyes see a static display. This can cause a conflict between what the body is feeling and what the eyes are seeing, leading to motion sickness. Google's Motion Assist feature uses the device's accelerometer and gyroscope to detect the motion of the car and place dots on the screen that move in harmony with the motion. This helps to reduce the conflict between what the body is feeling and what the eyes are seeing, making it easier for people to use their phones while driving or in other moving vehicles.

How Motion Assist Works

Motion Assist can be configured to turn on automatically when it detects a moving vehicle, or it can be quickly toggled through a tile in the Quick Settings. The feature can also be set to turn on when the device is in a specific mode, such as when the device is being used in a car. The dots can be customized to change their shape, color, and opacity, allowing users to personalize their experience.

The Benefits of Motion Assist

The benefits of Motion Assist are clear. By reducing or eliminating motion sickness, people can use their phones while driving or in other moving vehicles without feeling uncomfortable or nauseous. This can be especially helpful for people who use their phones for work or other purposes while on the go. Additionally, Motion Assist can help to improve the overall experience of using a phone while driving or in other moving vehicles, making it easier for people to stay connected and productive on the go.

Key points

  • Google is rolling out a new Android feature called Motion Assist that reduces or eliminates motion sickness when using a phone inside a moving vehicle.
  • Motion Assist uses dots on the screen to move in harmony with the motion of the car, reducing the conflict between what the body is feeling and what the eyes are seeing.
  • 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 the Quick Settings.
  • The dots can be customized to change their shape, color, and opacity, allowing users to personalize their experience.
The Upside

If Motion Assist is successful, it could lead to a significant reduction in motion sickness-related accidents and improve the overall experience of using a phone while driving or in other moving vehicles.

The Downside

However, there is a risk that Motion Assist could be distracting or annoying to some users, which could lead to a decrease in its effectiveness or even a backlash against the feature.

Originally reported at

theverge.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsandroidgooglemotion-assistcar-sicknesstech

Author

Thomas Ricker

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Aug 25, 2026

Source

theverge.com

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Topics

androidgooglemotion-assistcar-sicknesstech

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