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Samsung's Hearapy App Uses Sound to Combat Motion Sickness
1 Apr
Summary
- New app Hearapy uses sound waves to reduce motion sickness symptoms.
- A 60-second tone may provide up to two hours of nausea relief.
- Effectiveness depends on headphone quality and volume reproduction.
Samsung has introduced Hearapy, a novel free application available on Android devices, designed to combat motion sickness. The app utilizes specific sound frequencies, playing a 100Hz sine wave tone for a duration typically set at 60 seconds.
This sound stimulation is intended to target the vestibular system, which governs balance and orientation. Research from Nagoya University in Japan inspired the app, suggesting that certain sound wavelengths can mitigate discomfort experienced in moving vehicles. Users can adjust the tone's length between 40 and 120 seconds, with a full minute aiming to provide relief from nausea for up to two hours.
The effectiveness of Hearapy can be influenced by the audio equipment used. Samsung recommends its Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, but the app requires headphones capable of reproducing the tone at 80 to 85 decibels for maximum efficacy. The app can be repeated as necessary for ongoing relief.
