Who doesn’t like to travel, but for many people, long distance travel becomes a nightmare. Feeling nauseous, lightheaded, vomiting or feeling extremely tired while travelling by car, bus, train or on hilly roads is a common problem, which is scientifically called motion sickness. Often people resort to medicines to avoid this, which can have many side effects. But if you have an iPhone, you don’t need any medicine. Apple has added a revolutionary feature to iPhones with its latest iOS 18 update, which claims to eradicate this problem completely.
The real cause of motion sickness and the iPhone’s scientific solution
Motion sickness occurs when different sensory organs (eyes, ears, and body) send different signals to the brain about motion. For example, when you’re sitting in a car and looking down at your phone, your eyes signal to the brain that you’re ‘still,’ while your inner ears and body sense the vehicle’s movement, sending a signal of ‘motion’ to the brain. The brain struggles to process these conflicting signals (Sensory Conflict), resulting in symptoms like nausea and vomiting. The iPhone’s new ‘Vehicle Motion Cues’ feature works on this scientific principle.
How does the magic of iPhone work?
When you turn on the Vehicle Motion Cues feature in your iPhone’s settings, small, animated black dots appear on the edges of your screen. These dots move according to the vehicle’s actual speed using your phone’s built-in sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope). If the vehicle is moving forward, the dots move downward; if the vehicle is turning, they turn in the opposite direction. When you’re looking at your phone, your eyes can also “see” the vehicle’s motion through these dots. This way, the brain receives the same “motion” signals from both eyes and body, eliminating sensory confusion and providing instant relief from motion sickness.
The easy way to turn on your iPhone’s secret settings
This feature is hidden within your iPhone’s Accessibility settings. Follow these simple steps to turn it on:
Open your iPhone’s Settings app.
Scroll down and tap ‘Accessibility’.
Click on the ‘Motion’ option under the ‘Vision’ section.
Now you will see the option of ‘Vehicle Motion Cues’, tap on it.
Here you can turn it ‘On’. If you want it to turn on automatically whenever you get in the car, select the ‘Automatic’ option.
Caution and conclusion
While this feature has proven to be a game-changer for most people, keep in mind that it’s not a medical treatment. If your problem is severe, be sure to consult a doctor. Furthermore, Apple clearly warns against using this feature while driving, as it can be distracting. Only use it while you’re a passenger. With this small digital tweak, you can now enjoy your next trip without fear.