Goggles Treat Symptoms of Airsickness

Turbulence, momentary dips and unexpected bumps in the sky can make any frequent traveler a nervous wreck. Dry air and less-than-desirable airplane food compound this unease that can lead to airsickness. Although many remedies exist for this frequently occurring conundrum, a new device is in the works that will combat these feelings of nausea and overall discomfort while flying high in the sky.

Motion sickness is often caused by an imbalance between what a person sees and what someone hears. As the plane drifts through the sky and the sensation of balance changes, the interior of the airplane does not change, thus disrupting a traveler´s internal stability. In response, inventors are developing goggles that will trick a passenger´s mind into seeing something completely different and thus preventing the disturbance of motion imbalance from happening.

When wearing the goggles, passengers will be able to view a horizon that changes as the position of the plane changes in the sky, therefore connecting the sensations of sight and balance.

If developed for mass production, the goggles would cost approximately £300, or about $435, and could one day appear in every seat on every plane in the world. Although airsickness only affects 1 percent of travelers, the goggles could be a welcome accessory for this population.