SmartPills

What it does

SmartPills is a pill dispenser with smart capabilities with the aim to help the elderly population overcome the limitations developed during aging, while also supporting caretakers in managing and connecting to the patient.

Your inspiration

The gradual aging of the global population originates many concerns to personal and communal health. Elderly individuals are especially susceptible to isolation and neglect, resulting in reduced health and quality of life. We aim to develop a product that would be available to that population and support them in retaining a degree of independence while giving caretakers and family members the opportunity to manage the situation from any location.

How it works

The device features a segmented circular cartridge, where, according to the patient’s prescriptions a dose of medication is loaded into each segment. At the scheduled times, the cartridge rotates, and the dose is dispensed into a cup, from which the patient will take the medication. Every time medication is dispensed the device alerts the patient, and if any dose was missed the device communicates this to the assigned caretaker, who at any time may initiate contact with the patient with a video call. The virtual assistant can interact with the patient, offering support during their daily routine, and attenuating sensations of loneliness and isolation.

Design process

During development of this product, an extensive investigation was made into the effects of aging and the difficulties that arise due to it. Using that data, we defined a series of requirements the product would have to fulfil, to make it functional and accessible to the target public. With those requirements in mind, after a preliminary sketching phase we built physical models to aid in evaluating the usability, dimensions, and ergonomics of the design, which after refined were adapted into a CAD model ready for 3D printing. This process concluded with a semi-functional prototype, with which we were able to test the functionality of all the components and identify improvements to be made in the design.

How it is different

In contrast to traditional pill dispensers, the smart features incorporated into SmartPills enable it to act against various challenges borne from old age. Beyond keeping track of complex medication regimes, and dispensing doses at programmed times the device can communicate directly to caretakers how accurately the regime is being followed, and alert to any undesired occurrences. Other features such as video calls and the virtual assistant can help defy the isolation that is often felt among the elderly population, serving also as a way to ease the elderly into daily engagement with current technologies, empowering them and challenging the alienation that might come from lack of tech knowledge. Furthermore, the circular cartridge presents an innovation in the field, which enables the device to store a large number of doses using a simplified dispensing mechanism.

Future plans

After developing final fully functioning prototype, programmed with user-friendly interface, the goal is to run contextual testing among the target demographics and environments. This would enable the collection of data regarding to the reaction and perception the target user would have to the product, their ability to operate and interact with the interface and the effectivity of the product in achieving its goal of improving adherence to medication regimes. Data which will be essential in evaluating the real applicability of the product and aid in identifying possible improvements to be made before distribution.

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