Google is testing Motion Cues (aka Motion Assist) for Android 17 — an iOS-like feature that overlays moving dots to ease motion sickness when using your phone in cars, buses, and trains.
A familiar modern frustration is getting a lot more attention today: that queasy, headachy feeling when you try to read, scroll, or watch videos on your phone as a passenger in a moving car. On December 17, multiple reports across the tech press point to Google preparing a built-in fix in Android 17 — a feature commonly referred to as Motion Cues (and possibly rebranded as Motion Assist) that places subtle, animated dots along the edges of the screen to help reduce motion sickness. [1]
The idea isn’t entirely new — Apple already offers Vehicle Motion Cues on iPhone and iPad, and third‑party Android apps have tried similar approaches for years. What’s changing now is the likelihood that Google’s solution becomes a native, system-level Android feature, so it can stay visible even on critical UI screens where normal overlays are blocked for security reasons. [2]
Below is a detailed rundown of what’s being reported today (Dec. 17, 2025), how this “smart dots” approach works, why Android has taken longer than iOS to ship it, and what you can do right now if phone-in-car nausea is a real issue for you.
What’s the news today (Dec. 17, 2025)
1) New reporting says Android 17 is lining up a deeper, safer Motion Cues integration.
A German-language report published today highlights that Google appears to be moving Motion Cues from a “regular overlay” approach toward a system-wide API integrated with SystemUI, which would allow the motion dots to display across areas like the lock screen, status bar, and notifications — without opening the door to malicious apps drawing over sensitive screens. [3]
2) International coverage is framing this as “smart dots” that fight nausea.
A brief item posted today by Algeria’s Horizons describes Apple and Google rolling out motion-sickness fixes using dot-based visual cues, underscoring that this is turning into a cross-platform accessibility/wellness trend rather than a niche feature request. [4]
3) The core technical explanation is becoming clearer.
Earlier reporting this week (still driving today’s headlines) details why Motion Cues likely needs Android 17: it can’t reliably render over important system surfaces with today’s overlay limits, so Google appears to be adding a dedicated Motion Cues API that uses SystemUI for rendering while leaving configuration/logic to privileged components like Google Play services. [5]
Why looking at your phone in a moving car can make you sick
Clinicians and travel-medicine references commonly explain motion sickness using the sensory conflict / neural mismatch model: your inner ear (vestibular system) and your body sense movement, but your eyes are “locked” on a stable object (your phone), and your brain struggles to reconcile the mismatch. [6]
That mismatch can trigger symptoms like nausea, dizziness, sweating, fatigue, and headaches — and it’s often worse when you’re focused on something inside the vehicle (a phone, book, or tablet) rather than looking out toward the horizon. [7]
How “Motion Cues” and “Vehicle Motion Cues” work (the smart-dots concept)
The “smart dots” approach tries to reduce sensory conflict by giving your eyes a subtle, continuous reference that moves with the vehicle.
Apple’s approach: Vehicle Motion Cues (available now on iPhone/iPad)
Apple describes Vehicle Motion Cues as animated dots at the screen edges that represent changes in vehicle motion without covering the content you’re trying to read or watch. The feature uses built-in sensors to recognize motion and can be set to appear automatically when you’re riding in a vehicle. [8]
Apple’s iPhone user guide also includes an important safety warning: these cues are intended for passengers and should not be used while operating a moving vehicle. [9]
Google’s approach: Motion Cues (possibly renamed Motion Assist)
According to Android-focused reporting, Google’s Motion Cues concept is very similar: dots on the edges of the display shift in real time based on motion sensor data, effectively “moving the screen with you” to help your brain match what you see with what you feel. [10]
Some reports say Google may brand it as Motion Assist when it launches (in part to differentiate it from Apple’s naming). [11]
Why Android’s version likely had to wait for Android 17
If you’re thinking, “This is just dots — why does it need a whole OS update?” the current explanation is mostly about security and system UI limitations.
The overlay problem
Android traditionally restricts what third-party overlays can draw over — especially on sensitive surfaces like the lock screen, status bar, and Quick Settings/notifications — because letting apps render on top of those areas can enable phishing-like tricks. [12]
Motion Cues, however, is only helpful if it can stay visible consistently while you use your phone — including when you pull down notifications, adjust settings, or unlock the device.
The proposed fix: SystemUI rendering + privileged access
The emerging architecture described across multiple reports is essentially:
- Google Play services (or another privileged component) controls detection, settings, and appearance
- SystemUI handles the actual drawing of the motion dots on a protected layer
- The API is restricted so only system/privileged apps can use it — preventing abuse [13]
That kind of system-level split often requires an OS release — which is why Motion Cues is increasingly being tied to Android 17 timing. [14]
When could Motion Cues arrive?
No public release date is confirmed in the reporting cited here — but the likely paths being discussed are:
- A late Android 16 quarterly platform release (if Google can land the needed system-level hooks in time)
- Or Android 17 (2026) as the cleanest, most realistic delivery vehicle [15]
Separately, Android reporting also suggests Google may connect Motion Cues with a future “Transiting” mode — a feature that could detect when you’re on public transit and automatically change device settings for a smoother commute. If paired, “Transiting mode” could become the trigger that turns Motion Cues on at the right moment. [16]
What you can do right now (Dec. 17, 2025)
If you use an iPhone: turn on Vehicle Motion Cues
Apple’s official steps are:
- Settings → Accessibility → Motion → Vehicle Motion Cues
- Choose Automatic to show dots when motion is detected
- You can also add it to Control Center and customize appearance (pattern, color, dot size/quantity) [17]
Again: Apple explicitly warns not to use this while operating a moving vehicle. [18]
If you use Android: consider reputable third‑party options (with care)
While we wait for Google’s native version, third-party apps exist that mimic the same visual-cue concept. One example currently listed on Google Play explains that it shows edge dots moving opposite the car’s motion to provide a stabilizing visual reference. [19]
Important caveat: any “draw over other apps” permission can have privacy/security implications, depending on the developer and app behavior. If you use one, review data safety disclosures and install only from sources you trust. [20]
Low-tech strategies still work (and doctors still recommend them)
If you’re prone to motion sickness, travel-health guidance and clinical tips often include:
- Look toward the horizon / outside reference instead of focusing on near screens
- Minimize head movement; rest your head against the seat
- Sit where motion is reduced or visibility is better (front seat if appropriate, middle of back seat for forward visibility) [21]
Why this matters beyond comfort: accessibility and in-vehicle UX
The “smart dots” story isn’t just about comfort on road trips — it’s increasingly tied to accessibility and the design of digital experiences in motion.
Apple positioned Vehicle Motion Cues explicitly as an accessibility feature meant to help people who otherwise can’t comfortably use a phone or tablet while riding in vehicles. [22]
On the research side, new academic work continues exploring visual interface designs that reduce motion sickness in in-vehicle infotainment scenarios, including real-vehicle experiments—evidence that the industry is treating this as a serious usability problem, not a novelty. [23]
Quick FAQ (SEO-friendly)
Will Android 17 have a motion sickness relief feature?
Multiple reports say Google is working on Motion Cues (possibly branded Motion Assist) and that it may arrive with Android 17 because it needs deeper SystemUI integration to work properly. [24]
How does Motion Cues reduce motion sickness?
It adds subtle moving dots at the screen edges that reflect vehicle motion, helping reduce the sensory mismatch between what your body feels and what your eyes see. [25]
Can I use this while driving?
No. Apple’s official guidance warns Vehicle Motion Cues should not be used while operating a moving vehicle and should be used in situations where safety and attention are required. [26]
Is there anything similar on Android today?
Yes, third-party apps exist that provide motion-cue dots, though they may require overlay permissions and vary in privacy practices. [27]
References
1. www.androidauthority.com, 2. www.androidauthority.com, 3. www.chip.de, 4. www.horizons.dz, 5. www.androidauthority.com, 6. www.cdc.gov, 7. www.cdc.gov, 8. www.apple.com, 9. support.apple.com, 10. www.androidauthority.com, 11. www.androidauthority.com, 12. www.androidcentral.com, 13. www.androidauthority.com, 14. www.androidauthority.com, 15. www.androidauthority.com, 16. www.androidauthority.com, 17. support.apple.com, 18. support.apple.com, 19. play.google.com, 20. play.google.com, 21. www.cdc.gov, 22. www.apple.com, 23. arxiv.org, 24. www.androidauthority.com, 25. www.androidauthority.com, 26. support.apple.com, 27. play.google.com
