Samsung Launches Hearapy App to Reduce Motion Sickness Using Sound Therapy

Summary

Samsung has released Hearapy, a free Android app designed to alleviate motion sickness symptoms through audio stimulation. The app plays a 100Hz sine wave tone through connected headphones for 60 seconds, which the company claims can reduce motion sickness symptoms like nausea for up to two hours. The functionality is based on research from Nagoya University in Japan that demonstrated specific sound wavelengths can reduce discomfort experienced during activities like reading in moving vehicles.

The app's mechanism works by stimulating the vestibular system—the parts of the inner ear responsible for orientation and balance. Users can adjust the tone duration between 40 to 120 seconds, with a full minute providing optimal relief that can be repeated as needed. Samsung recommends pairing the app with its Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for best results, though it works with most headphones and earbuds capable of reproducing the tone at 80 to 85 decibels. The company acknowledges that effectiveness may vary depending on the headphones used and individual factors.

• The app is freely available on Android through the Google Play Store and works with most headphones supporting 80-85 decibel output

Editorial Opinion

Samsung's Hearapy represents an innovative approach to addressing a common and often debilitating problem—motion sickness—through a non-pharmaceutical audio-based solution. If the claimed effectiveness holds up under broader consumer use, this could provide a valuable, accessible alternative to traditional motion sickness remedies. However, the app's success will depend on consistent real-world performance and whether the vestibular stimulation approach proves as effective across diverse users as the underlying research suggests.