Check out this neat and useful project from jschrempp on Instructables. Via Embedded Lab.
Back in January 2014 I was at a meetup of Baby Boomer Makers at TechShop in San Carlos, California. We were going around the table, each taking a turn to talk about projects we’d like to do. Bob spoke up to describe a problem his elderly mother was having – she couldn’t remember to take her medicines on time every day. Each week Bob found that his mother had either forgotten to take her pills one day, or she had run out too soon because she had double-dosed. Both these problems are frightening. Bob is a retired electrical engineer and said to the group, “I have an idea for a device to help elderly people keep on their medicine schedule. I can make the electronics, but I don’t have a way to make a case for the project.”
His story really resonated with me. I’ve been a member of TechShop for several years and have learned to use a number of the sophisticated computer controlled fabrication machines that they have for members to use. I looked at Bob. “I can do that. If you make two sets of electronics, I’ll make two cases and we can trade.” Smiling at each other we started a great collaboration.
Six months and many prototypes later, the Pill Reminder was born. Bob set up his mother with one of the first units. Each week after that he checked and found that his mother was taking her pills twice a day as she should! There were no more cases of double-dosing or forgetting to take them. She was 100% compliant! It’s now been two months and his mother continues to take her pills as she should. Bob and I are very pleased.
Read the full tutorial here.