The main idea of our project was to help victims of medical non-compliance, specifically those who forget to take their pills. After extensive research, including conversations with a doctor, we found the biggest problem in all the apps, and other reminders was that users did not always have their pill boxes on them. Pill reminder apps remind the user to take the pill, but if the user did not have their pill box with them, then the reminder would be useless. When designing our product we took that plight into account, and created a pill box that reminds the user to take their pills.

Through the Python software that we developed, the user can input the day, time, and for how many days they would like to be reminded in a row. The Python software corresponds with the Arduino code, communicating to the Arduino when plugged in. The software can accommodate up to three different kinds of pills for users taking many pills at a time. 

The pill box design has four distinct compartments: one for the electronics- the Arduino Digispark- and three for pills. There are LEDs in each of the three compartments to display to the user which pill they should take. When it's time for the user to take their pills a vibrater will go off inside of the pill box.  After, one of the three  different colored LEDs will light up, indicating which pills the user should take. 

When designing our product on Fusion 360 we were meticulous and cautious of the size of our pill box. We wanted to create a product that would only take up a modicum of one's pocket. We achieved our minuscule size by placing the small battery on the bottom, and using an Arduino Digispark, which is the smallest consumer Arduino. Making our design so ergonomic, and small did come with some setbacks. We overcame most of them, and in the end the only problem that we still need to solve is the lack of space in compartments. 

A multi-billion dollar problem faced in health care is the issue of non-compliance or non-adherence. There have been a number of innovations that have addressed this issue, but relatively few have been widely adopted or have showed widespread impact. 

In this studio, we set out to attack non-adherence in three areas: chronic medication non-adherence, short-term medication non-adherence (i.e. anti-microbial agents), and dietary non-compliance. Through incorporating research of the current medical literature, user-design principles, and frequent iterations, students created functional prototypes of research-guided products with accompanying educational materials.

Our first idea was to create a cap with 3 sections that would spin because it would be attached to a 24 hour timer. We never got as far as to actually building the cap with the timer attached, but we were planning on having the 3 sections for different pills and having the container move as a reminder of the pills you have to take, and at which time. We also wanted the pill to automatically drop out a pill at a certain time but that quickly changed when we released the choking hazards in that idea. Our second iteration was to have a circle cap with 6 sections. 3 hallow and 3 full so the circle cap could spin and have 3 openings for the users. We wanted there to be sections that were empty so users could also drink out of this water bottle regularly. Our third idea was very similar to what we have now except the measurement and sizing were different. We had a short top without pegs so the cap was less sturdy and it was harder for the user to turn the wheel containing the pills.

The MediCap screws onto your water bottle to provide easy access to store your medication while also prompting you to take your pills. Our design uses mesh type plastic to allow water flow into the pill compartments to make taking a pill a much easier experience. One of the problems with our design could be the sharp edges, making it uncomfortable to drink out of. Another difficulty is keeping our product sealed and water tight, as water can tend to leak out of it between the screw piece and the rotating layer. We think this project is important because it can help cut down on the issues presented by medical noncompliance such as 50% of people with chronic illnesses not taking their perscribed pills or the enormous losses of live and money that medical noncompliance costs. The MediCap is a great way for all people to have easy access to these pills.

We originally got our idea from a product known as the Sunscreen Reminder Hat, which is a programmed sensor on your hat that reminds you every hour to reapply sunscreen. We know that a physical reminder works to increase sunscreen application based on a study that we researched. The research had 70 people, 35 getting text messages saying to put on sunscreen and 35 not. At the end of the time period only 30% of people who did not recieve text messages applied sunscreen and 56% of those who did get the texts applied. This shows a physical reminder does work to increase sunscreen use. 

Iteration 1:

    For our first iteration, we designed a large cap in Rhino, which would be separated into three different sections. The top would hold the UV sensor and the Arduino, the middle would be the dial, and the bottom would contain the buzzer and the battery. We also had a little hole through the top for wires to go through. After we 3D printed it we realized the measurements were off and the sizing was too big and bulky. Another problem with this design was the thin rods which broke off and were way too long. 

Iteration 2:

    For our second iteration, we re-designed our lid in Fusion instead of Rhino. We made our measurements smaller and more logical. We added a hole for the sensor to be placed in and got rid of the small hole. When we 3D printed it for the second time, there were only a few things that needed to be changed; the holes were not the correct size and the hole that would contain the UV sensor was too small. We also shortened the rods but they ended up still being too long. The bottom piece also did not fit on to the bottle that we designed it for.

Iteration 3:

     For our third iteration, we went back into Fusion again and made adjustments to the bottom holes and to the length of the rods because they were too long. We also made the bottom piece fit the bottle. This design worked well however we needed more space in the top compartment for the arduino which we didn't factor in.

Iteration 4:

    For our fourth iteration, we realized we needed more room for the Arduino, battery, and buzzer so we extruded the body a little bit more. With that change, we made the whole cap as small and thin as possible. In the end we went from 80mm in diameter to 60 mm in diameter. This Iteration will be the final one and also have notches in the dial so that it clicks into place. 

Coding:

We went into the entire coding process pretty lost. Having done very little coding before, we had to learn the basics and how each component was going to work. We started off playing with a buzzer and a large standard Arduino. We did a very simple code so that the buzzer would go off and on, just to get a feel for what we would be doing. Next out orders of the Flora Arduino and the UV sensor arrived which meant it was time to start the actual code. We hooked up the UV sensor and with a lot of tampering we got it so that when it was in sunlight, the buzzer would sound for a few seconds. This was very exciting because we got a part of what the final code would be down. The rest of the coding excpirience consisted of a lot of trial and error. We had to try hooking up the dial and the program became very tempermental. The final code will have the UV factored in so that when it is over a certain amount of sunlight, and the dial is at whatever your skin tone, it sounds after the certain amount of time that is appropriate. 

The goal for our hand sanitizer dispenser was to create a device that would encourage people to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizing a simple way people can stay healthy. People should be using hand sanitizer after they cough, sneeze, blow their nose, shake hands, touch their face, or do other common actions. We created the hand dispenser because it intrigues people and draws them in, enticing them to use the sanitizer and stay healthy. The dispenser also clamps onto the desks that we use at NuVu, so NuVu students can keep them close and use them all the time.

Studies have shown that hand sanitizer decreases the risk of colds and other illnesses, so if NuVu students were to keep the dispensers around them and use the sanitizer regularly, they would stay healthier. The germ bugs on top of the hand serve the purpose of reminding students how dirty their hands are, so they are drawn to use it. This product is important because it encourages people to use hand sanitizer, therefore keeping them healthier.

For anyone who needs pills, not taking them can be a serious problem. That medication usually is there for a reason; to keep you safe. Not taking it could mean pain, conditions getting worse, or even death. One of the major causes of non-compliance with medication is forgetfulness; if you don't remember to take your pills, you can't take them. We aimed to fix that, with a portable, programmable pillbox.
We started out with a large box, about 10 centimeters in diameter. It had three compartments for pills, a covered compartment for electronics, and a pocket on the bottom for a battery pack. This turned out to be too large, so we cut it down to 6 cm in diameter. After fixing a lot of scaling problems, we found that this worked a lot better. So, we began work on the electronics. We decided to use a tiny arduino, called the Digispark, because it was the smallest functional arduino we saw on the market. We set it up so that it could recieve timestamp data via serial port, and incorporate that into its timing circuit. We added a hole into the side of the electronics compartment, so you could connect to the arduino. Every day, it would ring at the times you set, maybe off by a second or two. Along with timestamp data, you also send a color indicator: this tells you which compartment the pills you need to take are in. The arduino will then flash that compartment's light, and buzz.

One thing people could do everyday to stay healthy is just the small task of washing one’s hands. Though it seems so easy, about 95% of people do not wash their hands correctly. In the medical compliance studio, the central goal between all the groups was to create a product that would help people follow medical protocol or help them to comply by what their doctors say. This could mean taking one’s prescribed pills, or remembering to look before crossing the street. We delved into the creating a hand sanitizer dispenser that would encourage people to actually clean their hands. Our goal was to create a hand sanitizer dispenser that looked interesting and NuVu students and coaches would actually use, because many people don’t use hand sanitizer. Two main reasons for this are accessibility and reminders: when the hand sanitizer isn’t in sight, or it would involve getting up/moving around to use it, the hand sanitizer is less likely to be used.

Our first iteration was made it out of cardboard and tape, and it was a U-shaped piece. It looked very similar to a regular dispenser, and there was absolutely nothing interesting about it. For our next iteration, we looked at different types of sensors, buttons, and automatic or manual pumps. We thought about reconstructing our dispenser so that it could have an automatic sensor.

We looked into making the dispenser into a clamp that would fit to the tables that we use at NuVu. We also realized that if we were going to make a pump mechanism, we didn’t need to make the it very complicated. All the mechanism needed was a hand sanitizer tank and some type of pump or button. We changed the idea of an automatic dispenser and instead started sketching various buttons and releasing mechanisms.

What we took away from the second iteration was that we really liked the pump mechanism and the idea of the hand sanitizer fitting onto the table. However, as soon as we started drawing it became clear that an automatic sensor would be too complicated, so we switched our idea to a simple design that only needed holes to align to allow the hand sanitizer to be released from the tank. We weren’t sure how this would work exactly, but we were set on the table clamp idea. In our next iteration, our goal was to come up with a button or pump system because it was critical to our design.

In our fourth iteration, we designed the button so that the inner key shaft pushed in (it’s connected to the piece with a spring), when enabled the key to slide into the dispenser tank and line up with the holes in the disk above and the bottom piece below. This created a clear line that the hand sanitizer could flow through, from the tank to the palm of the user’s hand. We really liked this idea, but we needed to make the key shaft wider so that it wouldn’t slide around, and we needed to 3D print it. It was also critical that we build a container around it, and create a larger button, so that it would be easy to press. Also, the tank needed to be able to screw on and off of the connector pieces, because there needed to be a refill mechanism.

In our fifth and final iteration, the dispenser had all the holes lined up and the button was larger and rounder, making the pushing mechanism more comfortable. The clamp attached to the table, and the sticker paper lined up on the hand. The sticker paper was designed to look like many germs on a hand, so that it emphasized just how much bacteria is actually on someone’s hand. In the final iteration, the entire piece worked properly, and the tank for the dispenser screwed on and off the piece very easily.  

Our product is a cap that attaches to your sunscreen bottle and factors in your skin color and the strength of the UV rays to get the appropriate time to remind you when to reapply sunscreen. The UV alert is unique because it incorporates both your skin tone and the strength of the UV rays. Ones skin tone is determined by the amount of melanin in the skin. Dark skin has more melanin than light skin therefore is more protective. Factoring in the skin tone results in accuracy to when one should reapply their sunscreen, this enables our product to be personalized by any consumer. There are many harmful effects that come from too much sun exposure Risks include skin cancer, sun burn, sun poisoning, premature aging, and sun spots. This sunscreen cap is a preventative for the harsh UV rays. Our studio focused on the issue of forgetfulness beacuse its one of the top reasons why people don't take there meds. We brainstormed other instances where people are forgetful in terms of medicine and we thought of sunscreen and the dangers of not wearing sunscreen. Research shows that reapplying sunscreen is critical in the prevention of  skin cancer, sun burns, sun poisoning, premature aging, and sun spots.  The text message study proves that people are more willing to use sunscreen when they are reminded. The physical reminder of the vibration from the buzzer, and the sound alert from the Arduino, will increase the chance for our consumers reapplying their sunscreen.

Moments after sitting down to brainstorm ideas for our project, we both knew that creating an adaptive piece of jewelry that fixed a common problem was the way to go. Our first design thoughts were to create a statement piece of jewelry that was both unique and helpful and after making a few sketches and doing copious amounts of Google searching, we came up with the idea of creating a small orb like shape that from the outside, would appear to be just a pendant, but from the inside would hold your daily dose of medication. This design fixes two major problems. It fixes the problem of carrying around an ugly, unwieldy pill case. Our design also facilitates an easy-to-access medication when out and about. Our design makes it as easy as rotating a lid and taking out the desired pill. After making a few prototypes and figuring out exactly how we wanted our pendants to look, we decided to go ahead with our original design of a ribbed sphere. After modeling on rhino and printing our first prototype out, we knew we had a ton of adjustments to make. By the end of the project it was very clear that while having more than one design idea is important, sometimes sticking to that first idea is the best solution to not rushing a project.