# Smart Pillbox MIT's uBox-uPhone Project Saves Lives By Rose A. Valenta | Published 2008-02-17 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-pillbox-mits-ubox-uphone-project-saves-lives References: [web.mit.edu](http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/itw-india-tt0206.html) & [web.mit.edu](http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/itw-india-tt0206.html) According to scientists at [MIT](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oily-gel-for-medicine), “Tuberculosis has long been eradicated from the world's industrialized nations but continues to take a terrible toll in a few poor, rural regions of Asia and Africa. Every year, 10 million new cases are diagnosed and two million people die of the disease.” As a result, MIT has initiated a uBox-uPhone project, a two-component system, which they hope will save thousands of lives. The first component of the system, uBox, has 14 chambers that can each be loaded with several pills, which it dispenses from one chamber per day. To alert the patient that it's time to take the medicine, the box flashes its lights and sounds a buzzer. When the compartment is opened, the uBox records the exact time and prevents double-dosing by refusing to open again until the next treatment is due. The second component, uPhone, allows health care workers to record a [patient's temperature, weight, and answers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/patient-monitoring-technology) to a list of questions related to symptoms, which adds to the set of detailed patient data analyzed by doctors monitoring the study. Field testing of the product began in India, last month. The problem is not that science cannot cure the disease itself, but that people forget to take the [prescribed dosages of medicines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pharmaceutical-solution). Tuberculosis is cured using a cocktail of antibiotics over a six-month period of regimented daily doses. I can see this as a stepping stone to assisting senior citizens, who can't remember when they have taken medications, such as blood pressure, heart, diabetes, etc. It can prevent them from taking lethal doses and will allow them to take medication on time. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.2/10 - Popularity: 12% | Activity: 17% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Smart Pillbox:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced pillboxes that can dispense and track medication adherence for various health conditions. - **Healthcare Monitoring:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create mobile apps or devices that enable remote monitoring of patient data for healthcare professionals. - **Medical Adherence:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design technologies to improve medication adherence for patients with chronic illnesses. ### Where This Applies - **Healthcare Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovate new technologies and devices to enhance patient care and medication adherence in healthcare. - **Pharmaceutical:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop smart packaging solutions to improve medication management and adherence. - **Geriatric Care:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create specialized tools and systems to support medication adherence and health management for elderly individuals. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Smart Pill Organizers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-pill-organizers.md) - [Aging-Focused Connected Clock Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/connected-clock.md) - [Integrated Smartwatch Pillbox Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apple-watch-pillbox.md) - [Connected Medication Reminder Holders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ownum-pod.md) - [Medication Organizer Clocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/medication-clock.md) - [Connected Medication Dispensers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-health-manager.md) - [Friendly Medication Dispenser Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mymemo-pill-dispenser.md) - [Modernized Waste-Free Medication Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-medicine-dispenser.md) - [Creative Medication Reminders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/medication-reminders.md)