Geekie Gadgets

High Tech Grannies Using a Medicine Management System

by jrjuan on 10/12/09 at 12:00 pm

All of us have grandparents and they could be irritating with their frequent questions and all. We could in fact sharpen our memory but it will lose its edge as we grow older and there is nothing that we can do about it much like how water flows down the falls. But how ironic that this is also the period where we must remember a lot of medications that we need to take like a tablet before eating, after eating, right after you wake up, on an empty stomach, 3x a day, hour intervals and the list goes on! The medicine kit with post-it reminders is a crude way of remembering which medication to take so why not tech it up like the Medicine Management System concept?

The whole idea is that this gadget would be the centralized information resource for your grandparents regarding which medication to take, notes on medicines, doctor’s prescriptions and recommendations, and personal information on medication and health. The interface would be grandparent proof meaning no complicated things to press or menus to dig and tweaks to do. The small and lightweight design would allow the gadget to be carried like on vacations. A scanner would also be present so just pass the bar code on the scanner and information about the medicine would appear, therefore eliminating mix ups. A voice alarm or vibrate would also remind to take medications.

With more and more people getting older due to the boomer generation, the Medicine management System is a great concept for our aging population.

A Robot to Assist the Aged

by bs04c on 18/12/08 at 2:15 pm

This next machine is a fascinating intangible android produced by the University of Tokyo, and is intended to help out the elderly in their everyday tasks. The Mamoru may not lend its arms or legs for physical assistance, but it provides something that many old people lack and help them out of it: memory.

The eyes of the Mamoru are designed not only for aesthetics purposes. Those eyes of Mamoru are wide angle camera lenses, and are designed to scan objects with image detection software.

How this be of help? Let’s say that our granny’s can’t find their glasses, remote control, or slippers. The Mamoru will courteously inform her where they are placed because it is not vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease. It can automatically remind her when to take her medication. But is needed to be programmed.

Of course, you have to question the morals of this robot. Are you actually willing to leave your elders in the care of this robot? Aren’t you happy of taking care of them? Miserably, all I can consider on is how I desire the Mamoru to be capable to perform more vigorous support.

Find and bid it here.