Health Technology + Software Development
Design an app that reminds elders to take medicine
Build a simple reminder app with large text and test it with an older relative.
- DifficultyIntermediate
- Estimated time2–4 weeks
- Budget₹0
- ClassClass 11 to college
- TeamSolo or up to 3
- You needComputer only
Prerequisites: Basic app development
Original · by TechnifyedMobile AppSocial Impact ProjectFree to doComputer onlyPortfolio focusedWell documentedTwo subjects
This project is for learning and awareness. It is not medical advice and must not be used to diagnose or treat anyone.
Overview
Many older people take several medicines at different times. A reminder app for them must be far simpler than usual: large text, few steps and a clear record of what was taken.
Why build this?
It has a real user at home, and accessibility constraints make you a better designer.
What you will learn
- How to design for low vision and low confidence with technology
- How to schedule notifications
- How to test with a real user
- Why a reminder tool is not a medical device
Skills you will use
Safety and ethics
- This project involves people. Explain what you are doing and get their consent (a parent's or teacher's for children), let anyone stop at any time, collect only what you need, and remove names before you share results.
- This project handles personal data. Collect the minimum, store it safely, get permission, and delete it when the project ends.
Materials and tools
- Computer
- A phone
- An older relative willing to test
Tools and software
Step-by-step roadmap
Start
You will finish with: a working app and notes from a one-week test.
- 1
Prerequisites
Know this first: basic app development. Then collect the 3 items in the materials list.
- 2
Learn
- How to design for low vision and low confidence with technology
- How to schedule notifications
- How to test with a real user
- Why a reminder tool is not a medical device
- 3
Plan
List the features for version one, sketch the screens or data flow and pick the tools. Keep the first version small.
- 4
Build
- Interview an elder about how they manage medicines now.
- Design three screens with very large text.
- Let a family member enter the medicines and times.
- Send a reminder with sound and a single "taken" button.
- Show a simple weekly record.
- Test with your relative for a week and fix problems.
- 5
Test
Your relative should be able to mark a dose as taken without help.
- 6
Document
Write a README: what it does, how to run it, screenshots and what you learned. Report structure
- 7
Present
Show a live demo of one complete task, then the design and the hardest problem you solved. Presentation structure · Viva questions
- 8
Publish
Put the code on GitHub with the README and, if you can, deploy a live demo.
Expected outcome
A working app and notes from a one-week test.
Other versions of this project
Beginner version
Design the screens on paper and test them.
Advanced version
Notify a family member when a dose is missed.
Social-impact version
Share the design so other families can use it.
Make this project better
- BasicDesign the screens on paper and test them.
- This projectDesign an app that reminds elders to take medicine
- AdvancedNotify a family member when a dose is missed.
Ways to do this project
Text marked "You write this" is a prompt for your own work; everything else is specific to this project.
Use this as the outline of your README or case study.
- Problem
- Many older people take several medicines at different times.
- Why it matters
- It has a real user at home, and accessibility constraints make you a better designer.
- What was built
- A working app and notes from a one-week test.
- Technology
- Flutter
- Architecture
- You write thisOne diagram: the parts and how data moves between them.
- Implementation
- You write thisThe 6 build steps in your own words, with one code or design decision you are proud of.
- Challenges
- You write thisThe hardest bug or decision, and how you got past it.
- Results
- Your relative should be able to mark a dose as taken without help.
- Demo and code
- You write thisA link to a live demo or a short video, and to the GitHub repository.
- Lessons learned
- You write thisWhat you would do differently next time.
- Future improvements
- Notify a family member when a dose is missed.
- Problem
- Many older people take several medicines at different times.
- Target user
- A grandparent who uses a phone mainly for calls.
- Solution
- Build a simple reminder app with large text and test it with an older relative.
- First version (MVP)
- One reminder with one button.
- Tech stack
- Flutter
- Architecture
- You write thisA quick sketch of the parts and how they connect.
- Demo
- Your relative should be able to mark a dose as taken without help.
- Stretch goals
- Notify a family member when a dose is missed.
Team roles
Plan by length
24-hour
- Hours 0–2: agree the problem, the user and the one thing the demo must show
- Hours 2–16: build only the first version
- Hours 16–20: test the demo path end to end and fix what breaks
- Hours 20–24: slides, a 2-minute demo script and a backup recording
48-hour
- Evening 1: problem, user, sketch and task split
- Day 1: first version working end to end
- Day 2 morning: one stretch goal and testing
- Day 2 afternoon: polish, slides and demo practice
1-week
- Day 1: research the problem and talk to two possible users
- Days 2–4: first version
- Day 5: stretch goals
- Day 6: testing and write-up
- Day 7: demo video and presentation
Working as a team
Solo or up to 3. Suggested roles:
Report and presentation
Report structure
- Title and summary
- Problem and target user
- Features
- Tools and technology
- Design: architecture, data model or screens
- Implementation
- Testing
- Results and screenshots
- Challenges
- Future improvements
- References
Presentation structure
- The problem
- Who it is for
- Live demo
- How it is built (one diagram)
- The hardest part
- Testing and results
- What you learned
- What comes next
Viva questions
Try answering before you open each one.
What did you change for older users?
Larger text, fewer steps and clearer feedback.
Does the app give medical advice?
No, it only reminds; the doses come from the doctor's prescription.
How is the data protected?
It stays on the device.
What did your tester struggle with?
Give a real example.
Resources
Source and attribution
Original
Written by Technifyed. Free to use for your own school or college project; write the report in your own words. Added 1 Oct 2026.
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