Avoid Vehicle Motion Sickness With This New iOS 18 Feature

[Murdock12]

As somebody that does suffer with motion sickness, I’m really grateful for this feature. I don’t use my phone or iPad all the time while travelling but it would be nice to have the option on long journeys. Especially for reading as I even get motion sickness just reading regular books. Hopefully I can now read ebooks without issue thanks to this feature.

As for people posting negative replies, it must be nice living so comfortably bound by the depths of your own ignorance. Never once daring to imagine themselves into somebody else’s situation or considered…dare I say it…expressing some empathy? Don’t like the feature…just don’t turn it on 😅 Keep scrolling and get on with your day.

I can’t even imagine what it’s like to NOT have to deal with motion sickness. I’ve had it pretty bad since I was a kid but it’s a little less awful as an adult - still pretty bad though. Barely made it though a plane ride earlier this year. My daughter can’t go 30 minutes in my truck without puking.

I would absolutely love to know what it’s like to be able to read a book on a long road trip without needing to puke.

 

[lk400]

If Apple cured Cancer, this Forum's response would be "Apple increases the chance of death from Heart Disease!"

I mean “this forum” is not a monolith is it? There are different people who express different views.

Isn’t it possible for different views to coexist?

Some people seem to think that needing such accomodation on your phone is symbolic of our collective inability to put these damned things down, and are expressing that view here. I think it’s a valid view worth listening to and discussing, and doesn’t need to be shut down immediately or ridiculed.

Others think that this is a welcome optional feature that helps people who see no problem with general level of smartphone use, or who could envisage needing to look at their phone in a car. An equally valid view.

Both can exist right? We don’t need to stop people thinking one or the other, or convince them they’re wrong?

 

[svish]

Not sure whether it will work. Anyway glad to see that it is there.

 

[antonrg]

Maybe write the text before you get in the car? How did you make that urgent text before you had a cellphone?

But I feel for you. I have a sister in law not quite that severe, but not good at all. Ever puke in someone else's car?

I was a kid before I had a cellphone, so never had that to worry about. As for writing a text before getting in the car, you can get a call while in a car and then need to use a phone. I mean anything can happen. 😂😂

 

[laptech]

The world is becoming a sad place to live in if Apple feels the need to design a feature that allows people with motion sickness to use their mobile phone whilst a passenger in a vehicle. People are becoming far too addicted to their mobile phone without realizing it and mobile phone makers such as Apple are helping them to become addicted.

Have people lost the ability to just put their mobile phone away and do other things?

I occasionally get motion sickness (have done since the age of 6) and as such this iOS 18 feature serves not interest to me what so ever because when ever I am a passenger traveling in a vehicle my mobile phone is always put away. I have no interest in being tethered to my mobile phone 24hrs a day.

 

[epigenome]

I don’t think many people here have experienced bad motion sickness or are even really familiar with what it is.

I’ve had it lifelong and “just looking outside” isn’t always a fix, especially if you’re in the backseat (like children usually are) because it still provides an altered sense of motion. Cames like eye spy and whatnot always led to me being ill.

The only thing that generally works is looking straight forward through the front window (though sometimes my peripheral vision still can trigger it) or closing your eyes entirely.

I’m definitely curious to see if it does much of anything… but some of y’all really have strong opinions on something that they, at best, have only had mild problems with given the remedies mentioned.

 

[avheatherim]

Wow. I somehow continue to be surprised at the negativity and trolling. Not every human convenience needs to be turned into a moral failing. To those of you who have apparently never experienced motion sickness - GOOD!! Be happy for it.

There are a ton of applications for this. Airplanes, buses, and yes - cars.

I almost never use my phone as a passenger for this exact reason. It would be nice to look up directions, restaurant hours, respond to a message from the people we are meeting, etc. - as a passenger. I get sick within about 20 seconds of looking down at my phone. It can ruin my entire night!

What did you do before cell phones existed? - Newsflash, they do, and have for many years. What did you do before [insert any technical advancement of the last 20 years]? We are in a technical timeline and some of us utilize and enjoy the technology we own and subscribe to! Or even make our living from.

 

[victorvictoria]

I was a kid before I had a cellphone, so never had that to worry about. As for writing a text before getting in the car, you can get a call while in a car and then need to use a phone. I mean anything can happen. 😂😂

Ever try using Apple's Focus app?

 

[pianophile]

If Apple cured Cancer, this Forum's response would be "Apple increases the chance of death from Heart Disease!"

Along with the usual chorus of, "Too expensive!", "overpriced!", "Dammit, Apple!", etc..

 

[victorvictoria]

Along with the usual chorus of, "Too expensive!", "overpriced!", "Dammit, Apple!", etc..

Cynical outlook. Other than a few trolls, most of the folks on this forum support Apple, but are not shy about voicing doubts about the value of some of Apple's "enhancements. I have my doubts as to the value of this Motion Sickness feature. The best way to prevent motion sickness is to fix your gaze on a stationary object in the distance, so your inner ear can agree with your eyes. Looking down at an iPad will only make it worse.

BTW: What kinda piano you use, and what do you play on it?
Here's mine (Yamaha C1). Jazz, traditional & show tunes mostly:

 

[avheatherim]

I have my doubts as to the value of this Motion Sickness feature. The best way to prevent motion sickness is to fix your gaze on a stationary object in the distance, so your inner ear can agree with your eyes.

Do you suffer from motion sickness?

 

[pianophile]

Other than a few trolls, most of the folks on this forum support Appl

The trolls are numerous, and unrelenting in their negativity. I've been on this site for 20+ years, and the whining of the trolls is endless. I tune it out, unless I am accused of same...

Re: pianos, I switched a few years ago from an old Baldwin Acrosonic spinet to a Yamaha Clavinova. Never going back.

 

[victorvictoria]

A close friend has that exact same Baldwin. No one plays it but me! I actually had them call my piano tech to tune it (twice, since it was so far out), and it was the best sounding spinet piano I've ever heard. Real nice tone and good sustain for a spinet.

 

[victorvictoria]

Do you suffer from motion sickness?

Three times in my life:
Crossing the English Channel at age 5. Puked on my Grandmere's fur coat.
Deep sea fishing on a Boston Whaler off Margaree Harbour, Cape Breton Island, in 6 foot swells. Wife puked, I just felt real queasy.
Riding in the twisty hills of Tuscany near Montalcino. No problem while driving, just as a passenger. Queasy again.

Once I learned to fix my gaze on the horizon at sea, or a distant stationary object in a car, no more problems. But looking down at your lap is going to give you problems every time if you have it worse than me. I don't believe for a minute that some app or feature is going to mitigate that in any significant way.

 

[AppleTLDR]

I can’t even imagine what it’s like to NOT have to deal with motion sickness. I’ve had it pretty bad since I was a kid but it’s a little less awful as an adult - still pretty bad though. Barely made it though a plane ride earlier this year. My daughter can’t go 30 minutes in my truck without puking.

I would absolutely love to know what it’s like to be able to read a book on a long road trip without needing to puke.

Same here! I tried all sorts like medicated sugar barley sweets that were supposed to help (I think they did have a placebo effect for me as a child), wrist bands etc and nothing really worked.

I’m actually ok on planes and rail but in cars or boats I’m done for 😅 Sitting up front definitely helps in the car so I can see the forward motion of the vehicle. Let’s hope this new feature provides us with some respite!

 

[AppleTLDR]

Three times in my life:
Crossing the English Channel at age 5. Puked on my Grandmere's fur coat.
Deep sea fishing on a Boston Whaler off Margaree Harbour, Cape Breton Island, in 6 foot swells. Wife puked, I just felt real queasy.
Riding in the twisty hills of Tuscany near Montalcino. No problem while driving, just as a passenger. Queasy again.

Once I learned to fix my gaze on the horizon at sea, or a distant stationary object in a car, no more problems. But looking down at your lap is going to give you problems every time if you have it worse than me. I don't believe for a minute that some app or feature is going to mitigate that in any significant way.

I think it’ll vary from person to person as people experience motion sickness in different situations. For instance I’m fine on trains or on flights. Perhaps it’ll work for some and not others.

Yesterday I had to take an Uber and I tried it out. It did genuinely help for about 20-30 minutes. But I did feel a bit nauseous in the last ten mins of the journey. That said I was pretty sleep deprived so I need to test it some more.

 

[I7guy]

The world is becoming a sad place to live in if Apple feels the need to design a feature that allows people with motion sickness to use their mobile phone whilst a passenger in a vehicle. People are becoming far too addicted to their mobile phone without realizing it and mobile phone makers such as Apple are helping them to become addicted.

Have people lost the ability to just put their mobile phone away and do other things?

I occasionally get motion sickness (have done since the age of 6) and as such this iOS 18 feature serves not interest to me what so ever because when ever I am a passenger traveling in a vehicle my mobile phone is always put away. I have no interest in being tethered to my mobile phone 24hrs a day.

Think this is off-base. How about a long ride-share where one wants to work, instead of chatting it up with the driver. This feature could help you do what needs to be done, maybe with less motion sickness. There are other reasons why one may want to use their screens in a car, having nothing to do with being anti-social.

 

[antonrg]

Ever try using Apple's Focus app?

No, but I’ve looked at it now and it wouldn’t resolve my issue. Anyway, I tried the feature yesterday and it works! I have no idea how Apple and their team have come to this design, but it is the first time in my life that I can actually use my phone without feeling sick while being in a moving vehicle.

I see a lot of comments here from those who don’t seem to have this issue suggesting to use the phone less and look out of the window. These people need to understand that it’s nothing to do with us using the phone on a whim, it is an actual physical issue a large chunk of human population has and telling us to just look out of the window or do our stuff in advance is at least ignorant. Apple has released an accessibility issue for some people, others, who don‘t struggle from it, have no room to talk. This company is actually doing something to help others and that’s a good thing.

 

[antonrg]

I think it’ll vary from person to person as people experience motion sickness in different situations. For instance I’m fine on trains or on flights. Perhaps it’ll work for some and not others.

Yesterday I had to take an Uber and I tried it out. It did genuinely help for about 20-30 minutes. But I did feel a bit nauseous in the last ten mins of the journey. That said I was pretty sleep deprived so I need to test it some more.

I have the same thing, I can use my phone on trains and planes, but yesterday tried it on a bus on my way back from the gym and it actually works! I am impressed and, frankly, kind of grateful that someone has finally thought of a solution to this annoying problem some people have.

 

[cutcopypaste]

I'm conflicted here. At first that sounds logical, but who are these people traveling to work, but who have someone to drive them? A work buddy maybe? And where are they driving that takes so long that the rider needs to catch up on work? If it takes that many hours, they should fly instead. Then work at the hotel, instead of puking on an expensive iPad Pro!

Another North American who’s never heard of trains or public transit 😅

 

[victorvictoria]

Another North American who’s never heard of trains or public transit 😅

Hey! My wife and I have taken Amtrak's California Zephyr all over western America. We took the last coast to coast train through Canada. And went everywhere in Manhattan, Paris, Goteburg Sweden by rail & bus. But public transit in Chicago? No thanks, security not up to my standards.

 

[powerwash]

Why are some of you so angry about a feature that is opt in only? Take your own advice by getting off your phone/computer if you let something like this piss you off.

 

[lowkey]

I tried it and it gave me motion sickness :/ the little balls we’re moving all over the place.

 

[antonrg]

I tried it and it gave me motion sickness :/ the little balls we’re moving all over the place.

It worked for me, I focused on the actual content and the little circles moving around didn't distract me at all. Perhaps, they still have some work to do for people who are still getting motion sickness.

 

[Arran]

Ever try using Apple's Focus app?

Ever try riding a commuter bus/train for a couple of hours every day?