Bidirectional smart pill box monitored through internet and receiving reminding message from remote relatives

A smart pill box (SPB) for the elderly and nursing homes meets the needs of the market by integrating electronic technology and network functionality. The interactive SPB, which features a particular device that contains embedded sensors in each compartment that not only transmits detected signals to website when users are taking their pills but also receives a remind message back to the LCD screen on SPB by displaying words and/or patterns, or speaking a voice. This study uses the Webduino module installed in SPB to achieve two-way messaging with remote relatives via internet of thing (IoT). The module first reads the sensing signal in the kit and uses WiFi to transmit the signal to WiFi Router, and then sends the medication information to a remote webpage or cell phone for monitoring (on LCD). Remote relatives can input care messages on the webpage or mobile phone to send a signal back to the WiFi Router and then to Webduino module. After receiving the signal, Webduino will send it to Arduino for text display and voice playback in the SPB. Therefore, the elderly staying in their home or nursing home institution can easily manage their medication via this application. The smart interactive pill box will be crucial for medical care management for elder persons of this aging population or in the future.