Author: Emma Brigaud

MedsSync Notifier

Instructables

If there is someone in your life who needs support taking their medication, chances are you’ve looked into medication management systems like Hero. Not only are they expensive, they look clunky and clinical on your grandmother’s kitchen counter. This customizable MedSync Notifier offers a tech-free way for people with memory loss to send their caregivers a confirmation they’ve taken their am or pm dose. Build trust with your loved one as they maintain their (assisted) independence and give you peace of mind.

This project was inspired by my experience supporting a woman named Mary in taking her medication (to make sure she doesn’t miss a dose) and keeping her family updated. I’m not always around to check during the time frame so I’ll give her a call. But if she doesn’t pick up, I start to worry. I wished there was an easier way for us to communicate pill status and now it’s possible with the MedsSync notifier!

And TaDa! This project was a huge hit with Mary, who loves the mushroom design and finds pushing the light-up button after taking her medication “very exciting!”.

Process

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Next steps
Refine the form for a more polished look. I still think the “ceramic” is the right aesthetic for this project and the design blends nicely with Mary’s decor. I’ll probably go ahead and solder the wires so they take up less room in the compartment. I would also like to spend more time on the naming conventions so that the notification reads less like spam.

Final Project Planning


Caffeine v Hydration Coaster

Bill of Materials
– Acrylic $15-20
– TBD I would probably need to get a new controller to fit with slender design
– Mini display screen

@Becky, how complicated would it be to create a locking mechanism to lock coffee cup until catch up with water sips?

Dispenser Sensor

Bill of Materials
– 3D printed so lets say around $10
– PIR (motion) sensor
– button

Working on the circuit diagram visual

More coming soon… 😊

Emma’s Final Project Ideas

  1. Task Completion Button
    More specifically, a medication dispenser that sends notification via text that the person has taken their am/pm dose. This is inspired by taking care of an elderly woman and needing reassurance she has taken her pills. She is not tech savvy so a button that sends automated confirmation to her caregivers would be handy!
  2. Sip Counter
    I know I’m not the only one who 1) drinks a lot of coffee and 2) forgets to balance with water. This sip counter will keep me aware of my caffeine vs. water consumption!
    Design 1: smart coaster
    Design 2: smart scale

Emma’s Halloween Shopping List

Maybe it was seeing Harry Potter on Broadway or Taylor Swift’s Reputation Era outfit but I’ve decided I would like to focus on snakes instead of spiders for my halloween costume. I’m going to insert a neopixel strip inside a green tube to create two glowing snakes. But instead of a head of snakes (like Medusa) I’m going to have the heads rest on my two shoulders and their bodies wrap around my torso.

Material Shopping List:
White tubing from Canal Rubber
Black paint to add pattern to the tube/snake body
1 battery pack
1-2 neopixel strips
origami paper for snake head (tutorial)
black corset
retractable fangs
snake pattern tights

Arduino Technique:
I am envisioning the light moving through (up and down) the snake’s body with slow fade between colors. Maybe I can add a button to toggle between settings (blink, select the color)?

Tinkercad Circuit:

Emma’s Lesson 4 HW & Halloween Ideas

My Custom TinkerCad

Lantern Fly (Group project: Swarm of Lantern Flies)
– Lights blink when (gently) whacked
– Fall to the ground for dramatic effect
– motion / pressure sensor


YES CHEF (Sydney from The Bear)
– Part of the costume (knife or “I love to cook” apron?” lights up when voice activated by “Yes Chef”
– Microphone

Spider
– Crochet wearable web + led strip
– motion sensor

Rat Czar
– T shirt with rats
– Small garbage bin?

Emma’s Mushroom Plushie

The mushroom plush nightlight is the perfect companion to brave the dark. Feel the warmth and magic glowing through this forest wonder. The mushroom plush can be placed on a bedside table or near the door to guide your way. While the red fabric is opaque, the white dots are made of a more translucent material to allow the nightlight to softly glow through the spots. They’re intentionally placed in clusters so that one side is brighter and the other, with fewer spots, is less bright. Rotate the mushroom depending on where you want the light directed.

For ages 5-99+!

Materials used:
– Red & Beige Felt
– Stuffing
– Thread
– 6 Yellow LEDs connected to a battery pack

Making the first prototype allowed me to experiment with designing a pattern and improving that pattern for the final product. I loved soldering the LEDs. I regret not using a lower resistor but I’m proud of my work. If I had more time, I would explore making the stem a detachable flashlight. I would also add more LEDs and spots.


Emma’s Plush Night Light Proposal

The mushroom plush nightlight is the perfect companion when it gets dark. It’s designed with a small child in mind so the stem is easy to hold. The mushroom plush can also stand on its own so it can be placed on a bedside table or where light is needed. While the red fabric is opaque, the white dots are made of a more translucent material to allow the nightlight to softly glow through the spots. They’re intentionally placed in clusters so that one side is brighter and the other, with fewer spots, is less bright. Rotate the mushroom depending on where you want the light directed.

For this prototype I used felt for the stem, knit fabric for the mushroom cap and a woven fabric for the white spots. For the final plush I am considering a more textured fabric for the red cap (like corduroy?). It may also be nice for the material of the white spots to make a crinkle sound when touched.

Ideas for iterations: I thought it would be cool to make the stem detachable with its own light so the user could have the option of a more pinpointed flashlight as well.

UPDATE:
I’ve been thinking about the material for the white spots. I could keep the fabric OR what if I had a more 3d semisphere (like half a ping pong ball or something 3d printed).