Smartphone features aim to reduce motion sickness during travel

Smartphone manufacturers are offering features to mitigate motion sickness, also known as kinetosis, which occurs when there is a sensory conflict between what the eyes see on a static screen and the physical movement felt by the body during travel.

Apple provides a feature for iPhone users located under Accessibility settings, specifically within the Motion menu. This tool displays small dots on the edges of the screen that move in sync with the vehicle's acceleration, braking, and turns. Users can set the feature to run automatically when a moving vehicle is detected or keep it on permanently, with options to customize the color and size of the dots.

Android devices, including Samsung Galaxy models, utilize a feature called Motion Assist. This tool uses the device's motion sensors to display moving geometric shapes on the screen's edges to provide real-time visual cues. On compatible devices running Android 17 or later, users can enable it through the settings search or via a Quick Settings tile. The feature can be set to start automatically when a moving vehicle is detected or controlled manually.