Must Have User Needs

1Clearly indicate whether a medication has been taken
2Customizable to different medication frequencies/doses
3Very accurate in telling if pill has been taken
4Device safely houses medication

Nice to Have User Needs

1Easy to use for people with limited dexterity, hearing, or sight
2Portable
3Cost-effective for user
4Communicates with a mobile app to receive dosage and frequency input from user
5Easily cleaned

Brainstorm Concepts

  • Blood/Saliva testing for half-life of ingested drug
  • Bluetooth pill case with app connectivity that sends reminders to take medicine and has confirmation features
  • Gumball machine that dispenses meds at a specific time. 
  • Determines when weight is removed from the bottle (any amount of weight, not specifics, can let differing doses be taken). !!!
  • Arduino motion sensor around rim of bottle to determine when it’s been opened.
  • Counts how many times doses are taken daily, allowing multiple doses per day (connects to previous point)
  • Light source that glows red when doses have not been taken yet after a certain time (24 hour cycle, user defines the time)
  • Pill organizer with reminder system 
    • Like this but with a way of knowing if they actually took it 
  • Customizable pill reminder chart
  • Human-oriented version of this that is more reliable and better for dementia patients

Pugh Matrix

Based on the Pugh matrix, it was determined that the distance-sensing device has the most potential to improve medicine compliance.