Google rolls out Motion Assist for Android 17 to reduce motion sickness

Google has begun the full rollout of Motion Assist for Android 17, a feature designed to reduce motion sickness (kinetosis) for passengers using smartphones in moving vehicles. The function works by displaying small animated indicators at the edges of the screen that mimic the real-world movement of the vehicle. This provides a visual reference that aligns with the body's physical sensations, helping to reduce the sensory conflict that causes nausea.

Users can access the feature through Google Play Services settings, with options for manual activation or an automatic mode that triggers when the device's GPS detects vehicle movement. The indicators are highly customizable in terms of color, shape, and opacity.

Future updates, specifically observed in beta versions of Google Play Services, suggest deeper integration for Pixel devices. This upcoming enhancement would allow Motion Assist to activate automatically when the “Public Transit” mode is enabled, using contextual signals like transit schedules and location to ensure the feature triggers reliably even if motion sensors fail to detect movement.