Apple's Vehicle Motion Cues Aim to Alleviate Motion Sickness
Apple has introduced "Vehicle Motion Cues," a new accessibility feature designed to reduce motion sickness for users of iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks in moving vehicles. The system uses device sensors to animate peripheral dots on the screen, synchronizing with the vehicle's motion to ease sensory conflict. This feature, available in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS settings, aims to improve the experience of using devices while traveling.
Key points
- Apple introduced "Vehicle Motion Cues" as an accessibility feature in 2024.
- The feature aims to reduce motion sickness experienced when using Apple devices in vehicles.
- It utilizes the device's accelerometer and gyroscope to display peripheral "dots" that move with the car's motion.
- This visual cue helps synchronize the user's visual input with their inner ear's sense of motion.
- Vehicle Motion Cues can be enabled through accessibility settings on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Apple has launched a new feature called "Vehicle Motion Cues," designed to mitigate motion sickness for individuals using iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks within moving vehicles. This accessibility tool, introduced in 2024, aims to address the sensory conflict that arises when a user's eyes are focused on a static screen while their inner ear perceives the vehicle's acceleration, braking, and turns.
The system operates by leveraging the device's built-in accelerometer and gyroscope. These sensors detect the vehicle's motion, and in response, the feature animates small dots around the periphery of the screen. When the vehicle turns, for instance, the dots will move across the display in the opposite direction, and during braking, they will slide forward. This visual feedback is intended to provide a more synchronized experience, helping to reduce feelings of nausea.
Vehicle Motion Cues can be found and enabled within the accessibility settings of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The feature is presented as a way for users to more comfortably engage with their devices during travel, potentially allowing for extended use of reading apps, work applications, or entertainment without discomfort.
Sources
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