Android 17 feature may help reduce motion sickness 

Some people may suddenly experience nausea and dizziness while travelling by plane, train, ship or car. This condition is medically known as motion sickness and people affected by it may experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness and other symptoms.

If you are also one of those people who experience dizziness or nausea while travelling in a moving vehicle, you are not alone. Many people around the world experience this problem.

Generally, experts advise people suffering from motion sickness to avoid using their phones. However, Google has now introduced a new feature called Motion Assist for Android smartphone users.

According to a report by Android Authority, Google has started gradually rolling out this feature. It is part of the Android 17 operating system and is being introduced first for Google Pixel phones. The feature is designed to help reduce the severity of motion sickness while travelling in a vehicle.

What causes motion sickness?

Motion sickness is a somewhat mysterious condition and its exact cause is not fully understood. However, experts have identified several possible reasons. One thing is clear: motion sickness can occur when our senses send conflicting signals to the brain.

For example, if you are sitting on a swing that is moving up and down, your eyes may see one thing, your muscles may sense something else while your inner ear experiences something completely different. The brain may struggle to process these conflicting signals resulting in dizziness or nausea.

Experts believe that the inner ear plays an important role in motion sickness because it helps control our sense of balance. The inner ear is part of a network known as the vestibular system which sends information about the body’s movement and surroundings to the brain.

The brain combines information from different parts of the body to make sense of what is happening but sometimes these signals can become confusing. For example, while traveling on an airplane, you may feel movement but your eyes may tell your brain that you are sitting still.

A similar situation can occur while travelling on a river or at sea. You may be sitting or standing on a stable surface while still experiencing a sensation of movement.

Some passengers particularly those sitting away from the driver’s seat in a car can experience the same thing. All of these situations can result in motion sickness.

What is Google’s new feature and how does it work?

Google has been working on this feature for quite some time. The code for the feature was first spotted in December 2024 and development has continued since then. It has now become part of Android 17.

Once the feature becomes available, users will be able to find it by going to Settings then Your Profiles and All Services. From there, users can access the Personal and Device Safety section and enable the feature.

Once enabled, Motion Assist will automatically activate when the phone detects that it is inside a moving vehicle. Google will also provide a Motion Assist option in Quick Settings allowing users to manually turn the feature on or off.

When the feature is active, users will have several customization options. They will be able to change the colour, appearance and other aspects of the motion indicators. During a journey, motion dots will appear on the screen to help reduce the feeling of nausea.

It should be noted that the feature does not guarantee complete relief from motion sickness but it may still prove helpful.

Are there other simple ways to prevent motion sickness?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several simple measures may help reduce or prevent motion sickness. These include:

1. Prefer sitting in the front seat of a car or bus.
2. Choose a window seat on an airplane or train.
3. If possible, lie down and close your eyes.
4. Drink plenty of water and avoid tea or coffee.
5. Avoid eating large meals before travelling.
6. Avoid smoking.
7. Distract yourself with activities such as listening to music but avoid reading.
8. Take deep breaths to stay calm or close your eyes and count backward from 100.
9. Look at a stationary object such as looking at the sky while traveling in a vehicle.
10. If available, chewing a small amount of ginger may also help.
11. The smell of mint or using mint candies may also provide some relief.