How to activate the iPhone's anti-dizziness feature

iPhone's anti-dizziness feature

With each software update, Apple continues to innovate and deliver features that improve the user experience. With the release of iOS 17, Apple has introduced a new feature focused on mitigating an issue that affects many people while using mobile devices with an iPhone “anti-motion sickness” feature.

This new feature seeks to reduce the discomfort that some users experience when interacting with their iPhone, especially during prolonged use or while consuming content on the move, such as videos or games.

Below, we take a look at what cybernausea is, as well as how the iPhone's new anti-motion sickness feature aims to reduce the phenomenon and why it's an important step in health-focused technology.

What is cybernausea?

What is cybernausea?

Cybernausea, also known as “digital sickness” or “virtual motion sickness,” is a feeling of dizziness, nausea, eye strain, and general malaise that some people experience when interacting with digital screens.

Although it may seem strange, the repetition of these symptoms in different people makes it possible to talk about this phenomenon, which is similar to motion sickness that is felt in a car or on a boat, and can be triggered by various reasons:

  • Rapid or jerky movement on the screenRapid changes in images, moving graphics, and visual transitions can cause dizziness in some people as the brain perceives a mismatch between what the eyes see and what the body feels.
  • Virtual and augmented reality: Using applications that involve three-dimensional graphics, such as virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) games, can cause cybersickness when the images appear too realistic or move quickly. (NA: I have to say that I have personally experienced this with VR glasses, this exists)
  • Fast scrolling: Scrolling quickly through web pages or apps can also cause a feeling of dizziness, as your eyes try to follow the movement but your body is still.

Although not everyone is susceptible to cyber nausea, those who experience it may feel it acutely, affecting their ability to enjoy or use their devices normally.

Why does cybernausea occur?

Cybernausea is caused by a mismatch between what your eyes perceive and what your body feels. Here are some of the reasons why this happens:

Disconnection between vision and body balance

When you're standing still but looking at a screen where objects appear to be moving quickly, your brain receives conflicting signals: Your eyes perceive movement, but your body is still.This disconnection confuses the brain and can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and fatigue.

Rapid or abrupt movement on the screen

Rapid movements (scrolling), 3D graphics, fast transitions and visual effects of digital interfaces may cause some people to experience a feeling of instabilityCybernausea can be triggered, for example, by watching first-person videos or using applications that require you to follow moving objects across the screen.

High refresh rates or lack of visual fluidity

Displays that have a high refresh rate (such as iPhones with 120Hz ProMotion displays) offer a smoother viewing experience, but For some people, this rapid updating of images can be a source of dizziness.The opposite, i.e. a low refresh rate or content with poor fluidity (lag), can also cause cyber nausea.

3D graphics and virtual reality environments

Virtual and augmented reality are often the biggest causes of cybersickness. In a VR environment, the user moves through a computer-generated three-dimensional space, but the body remains stationary. This dissonance between what the user sees and what their body feels can quickly lead to symptoms of dizziness.

The new anti-motion sickness feature on the iPhone: What is it and how does it work?

How does anti-dizziness work?

Now that we know what cybernausea is and that it exists, we need to talk about Apple, which has responded to this problem by introducing a specific function in its operating system that helps mitigate the effects of cybernausea in this way:

Reducing motion effects

Apple had already introduced in previous versions of iOS the Reduce Motion option, which minimizes scrolling and transition effects in the user interface, such as the "parallax effect» on icons or zooming when opening apps. However, with the new anti-dizziness feature, this option has been refined to be even more effective.

By enabling this new feature, the system reduces the amount of fast animations or graphic effects which could contribute to the feeling of dizziness.

Refresh rate settings

The latest iPhones feature ProMotion displays, which allow the screen's refresh rate to be dynamically adjusted up to 120Hz.

The new anti-dizziness function Regulates the refresh rate to stabilize visual content when necessary, especially in situations where abrupt changes in speed can trigger visual discomfort.

Scroll smoothing

For those who experience motion sickness when scrolling quickly through apps or web pages, this feature adjusts the speed and behavior of scrolling to make it more gradual and less jerky.

By reducing visual jumps, the likelihood of the brain feeling disoriented is reduced between what you see on the screen and what your body perceives.

Color and contrast filters

Extreme contrasts and vibrant colors can also contribute to cybersickness. The new anti-sickness feature allows you to adjust the colors and contrast on your screen to create a smoother viewing experience. This may include: reducing brighter tones and dimming backgrounds to reduce eye strain.

Improvement in augmented reality applications

One of the biggest challenges for users suffering from cybersickness is the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications.

The anti-motion sickness feature on iPhone also incorporates specific improvements for these applications, reducing the speed of movement of virtual objects on the screen and improving visual stability to minimize dizziness.

How to activate the anti-dizziness feature on your iPhone

To enable this feature, it is very easy. We simply need to access the application "Configuration» on your iPhone and within the settings options, scroll down to «Accessibility» and tap on it, until you find the “ option in the menuMovement".

Here you can activate the option “Reduce Movement", which now includes advanced options for users experiencing cyber nausea. However, be sure to explore the submenus that offer options to adjust scrolling, refresh rate, and contrast.

iPhone's anti-dizziness feature: something to keep in mind

activate iPhone anti-dizziness feature

Cybernausea is a real condition that affects many people and if it is on the table, it is because This inconvenience does not leave users indifferent..

By addressing this issue, Apple demonstrates its commitment to accessibility and avoiding the problems that technology brings to our lives, which sometimes solves them for us and sometimes… maybe not so much.

Just as in the past Apple has introduced Features for users with visual, hearing and motor disabilities, the anti-motion sickness feature further expands the iPhone's ability to adapt to individual needs and from here, We applaud this extra effort and recommend its activation.

Even if you don't experience motion sickness regularly, the anti-motion sickness feature offers a smoother, more enjoyable user experience, with less jerky transitions and fine-tuned scrolling that can improve the overall feeling of fluidity in everyday iPhone use. So now you know, You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by activating the anti-dizziness function of the iPhone.


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