Functionality on mobile phones shows points that move according to the vehicle’s movements, to reduce sensory conflict. But after all, why is motion sickness so common?
Many people feel nauseous when they try to read or look at a screen while traveling in a car, but they can listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks without any problems. THE motion sickness It occurs when there is a gap between what our eyes see and what our inner ear feels.
But Apple launched a feature on the iPhone last year that promises to reduce this discomfort. The feature is called and works through circles that appear on the edges of the iPhone screen. These points move according to the vehicle’s movements: they move forward when the car moves forward, backward when the car reverses and move laterally during curves. The idea is to create a visual reference that follows the movement perceived by the inner ear, helping to reduce the sensory conflict responsible for motion sickness.
To activate the functionality, simply access Settings – Accessibility – Movement – Show Vehicle Movement Signs.
The feature can be activated permanently or only when the device detects that you are in a vehicle. Apple did not mention specific studies that served as a basis for creating this functionality, but a 2019 study from the University of Salzburg used a similar method with an Android application, placing moving bubbles on the edges of the screen. Participants reported a reduction in motion sickness, although the study was small in scale.
If you don’t have MacOs, but have Android, there are applications available on the Play Store with the same idea.
But to better understand how this feature works, it is important to understand the cause of motion sickness. The most accepted explanation, according to the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), cited by , is the so-called “sensory conflict theory”, which suggests that motion sickness arises when the movement we see does not coincide with what the inner ear perceives.
The inner ear, specifically the vestibular system, is not just for hearing. It is essential for balance and the perception of movement. Inside the ear, endolymphatic fluid moves as we move, and sensory cells detect this movement. When we are moving by our own means, such as walking or cycling, the visual and vestibular systems work together without problems, but when we travel in a vehicle that we do not control, if we look down, for example at a book or screen, the eyes perceive little or no movement, while the inner ear detects displacement, causing the sensation of nausea.
Experts recommend that anyone who suffers from motion sickness when reading in the car try looking at the horizon or distant objectsavoiding looking at screens or pages. Other strategies include eating before traveling, avoiding traveling on an empty stomach, and not drinking alcohol or smoking, as these factors can worsen symptoms.
