Personal Project Pitch

My aim for the project is to create an adjustable box that helps elderly patients adhere to their prescribed medicine routine using colour coding and alarms. Along with this, the product will provide users with progress tracking to measure how often their having their medications.

Why create this, and what problem does it solve?

Approximately 50% of “older adults” struggle with medication adherence (source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949761223000913#:~:text=About%2050%25%20of%20older%20adults,and%20morbidity%20and%20mortality%20rates.) This research also shows that elderly patients find apps and reminders too distracting. Younger adults may find it easier to integrate with technology, but the main people that struggle with adherence are the elderly. To help them I would like to create a product that is more affordable than existing medication reminder boxes, and simpler (colour coded medication sections).

Definition pitch:

Elderly patients don’t take their prescribed medicine. There are lots of problems that this causes, especially if they’re necessary prescription medication, not optional supplements. To address this problem, I would like to create a simple product that reminds people to take their medication and track their progress in medicine adherence.

Ideate by thinking of various solutions to the problem – goal of 10 ideas:

1. An app to remind (already exists)
2. Medication Box that tracks progress automatically and requires minimal input by user
3. Vibrating pouch for medication at time of taking it
4. Medication pouch that attaches to back of phone (magsafe, or velcro)
5. App that works in sync with medication box to provide reminders if you’re away
6. Belt strap that has medication tiny box or pouch
7. Wrist accessory (small pouch hanging from keychain – with good ventilation and medication storage conditions)

I already eliminated 1. because it wouldn’t be effective or user friendly for elderly patients. Number 3 and 4, is good, but may not be able to store various types of medication – and elderly patients frequently are being treated for various conditions. 3,4,6 and 7 may not have the best medication storage conditions and would require a lot of research. The main issue with the ones that you carry around are that they could get lost very easily – especially with the elderly that have memory problems. I may do 5 if I have more time after creation.

Plan

1. I will research how to create the physical prototype and whether my idea of sliding compartments that expand and contract is feasible or not.
2. Furthermore, I will do research what materials are best for medication storage and are safe to store them in. I need to use the right materials
3. Set goals on what needs the prototype needs to have strictly (necessary and optional)
4. Technical design plan. This will include the buzzers, possible angle sensors to detect when the box is opened to see when medication is taken, etc.
5. Prototyping – creating the build and working on it
6. Testing and improvements to refine prototype and ensure MVP and goals have been met. The testing will include feedback on the product (does it help, where can it do better, what does it do) and testing basic functionality. Some part of the testing will include data collection from the percentage of the users on how much improvement they made on medication adherence.
7. Reflection on scaling the vehicle and real world application of it (possible distribution)

All of this will be done and wrapped up completely by May 1st.