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 motion dots is sound, and addresses the nausea felt when staring at a static display while the inner ear senses the car turning, braking, and accelerating. Motion Assist taps into the device’s accelerometer and gyroscope to place dots around the periphery of the display that move in harmony with the vehicle’s motion. When the car turns right, the dots sweep across the screen to the left; when the car brakes, the dots slide forward.
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 hadn’t yet arrived on a pair of Pixel devices tested at the time of writing. If it has rolled out to your device, you’ll find Motion Assist in Google Settings under Your Profile and All Services.
