Smart Label Reader: The Prototype of Reading Aid for Thai Elderly

Abstract

Medicines are an effective treatment solution, but if not follow the doctor’s advice. The ineffective treatment may have serious adverse effects. The disadvantages of taking self-medication without observing dosing regulations can cause side effects. The integrated system of healthcare for the elderly is the most important. Because of the deterioration of the physical condition resulting in health problems Which after seeing a doctor and receiving medication Should allow an assistant to manage the medicine schedule. "Smart Label Reader" represents an innovation that integration microcontroller and near field communication (NFC) tag with android text to speech (TTS) technology aims to assist the elderly by using voice explanation about the usage and remind scheduled to visit the doctor right in time. From interviews of the elderly’s assistant interest and potentially useful, which assist an elderly take the medication on their own and it would be great if add the feature of warning about schedule time to takes medicine immediately. This can assist the elderly to use their medicine correctly, although the change of appearance of the medicine. All these advantages can reduce the anxiety of the descendant. In additional comments from an interview of the pharmacist in terms of opinions towards Smart Label Reader, the pharmacist pays attention and confirms its advantage too. It can help the elderly who’s able to take medicine by themselves with confidence to increasing the level of life safety in the elderly. From the study and conclusion, the sample space of elderly they have the congenital disease for 81.3% (hypertension 70.4% diabetes for 53.7%), forget to take a medicine for 70.3% and take medicine on their own for 75%.