Motion sickness is a common problem for some people who try to read books or newspapers or look at their phone while in a moving car. While the driver is getting a lot more free time to other stuff with the rise of autonomous cars, it may also increase the risk of motion sickness, a collision between vestibular and visual inputs you experience when not watching the road while in a moving vehicle.
Glasses to prevent motion sickness
The good thing is, you may not have to use any complicated device to get rid of the motion sickness, and all you have to do is just slip on some eyewear. Researchers from the University of Michigan have received a patent, which could prevent the conflict between what you see and your sense of motion just by using glasses or a headset.
The system they developed would mimic the movement of a self-driving vehicle in your peripheral view by using a set of sequentially activated light pipes. It means your body will receive a frame of reference while you’re checking your phone or reading a book.
While it’s currently a patent, researchers aren’t guaranteed to implement the technology right now. However, they have plans to contact the automakers and suppliers so that they can turn this into a selling product. If it happens, it could be a great relief for the people with motion sickness while they are traveling in an autonomous car.
