Inspiration

This idea came from seeing people around me struggle to understand the medicines they take. Simple questions like “Why am I taking this pill?” or “Is this expired?” made me realize that many people, especially the elderly or rural users, have very little information about their own medication. I wanted to create something simple and smart to help bridge that gap.

What it does

MediKnow* is a smart medicine information tool that helps users:

• Identify medicines by scanning or manual entry
• Know their purpose and common side effects
• Check expiry dates
• Hear details read out loud in multiple languages as per user's wish
• Get answers to frequently asked questions

It makes medicine awareness simple, accessible, and multiuse — perfect for those who need clarity and safety about their medication

How we built it

I created a small database with basic details of common medicines: their name, use, brand, and expiry info.
Then I used:

• QR code scanner (or manual input)
• Text-to-speech (TTS) for Tamil & English voice output
• Expiry checker
• A simple app UI using MIT App Inventor
• Also tested a hardware version using Arduino + RFID + audio player for offline demos (Hardware Version)

1.Used Arduino UNO: As the main controller to run the whole system. 2.Added RFID Reader: To scan RFID tags placed on medicine strips or boxes. Each tag represents a different medicine. 3.Created a Mini Medicine Database: Inside the Arduino code, each tag is linked to the medicine name, use, and expiry date. 4.Used RTC Module: A real-time clock (RTC) keeps track of the current date to check if the medicine is expired. 5.Connected DFPlayer Mini: A small audio module that plays pre-recorded voice messages about the medicine. 6.Added a Speaker: To let the user hear the medicine's name, other info about the medication in multiple languages. 7.Included a Language Button: Press to select the preferred language before scanning. 8.Added LCD Display: To show medicine info and expiry status on-screen. 9.Used LEDs (optional): Green for safe medicine, red for expired. 10.Powered the Device: Runs using USB or battery, so it works without internet or smartphones.

The idea was to keep it low-cost and accessible, while still being powerful.

Challenges we ran into

Faced a few real-world challenges while building MediKnow:

• Managing audio in two languages was tricky — we had to keep it clear and understandable in both Tamil and English.
• The Arduino had limited memory, so we had to optimize our code and data carefully.
• Comparing expiry dates accurately using the RTC module needed clean logic.
• Sometimes the speaker volume was too low, especially in noisy areas.
• Making language switching easy for users took a bit of UI planning.
• Connecting all hardware parts smoothly (RFID, LCD, DFPlayer, etc.) took careful wiring and testing.
• And we always tried to keep the device low-cost and simple without losing important features.

Even with these issues, we stayed focused on building a useful tool that anyone can use — even without a phone or internet.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• We built both an app version and a working embedded hardware version of MediKnow.
• The device can scan medicines, check expiry, and speak details in Tamil and English — all without internet.
• We kept the system low-cost and easy to use, especially for elderly and rural users.
• We successfully connected and synced multiple components like RFID, RTC, LCD, DFPlayer, and more.
• Most importantly, we created something that can genuinely help people understand their medicines better and stay safe.

What we learned

• We learned how to combine hardware and health tech to solve a real-life problem.
• We explored voice output systems and how to make them work in multiple languages.
• We understood the importance of simple UI/UX, especially for non-tech users like the elderly.
• We got hands-on experience with RFID, RTC, DFPlayer, and building an embedded system that works offline.
• Most importantly, we learned how small ideas can create meaningful impact when focused on real user needs.

What's next for MediKnow

• Add more Multi languages to support a wider range of users.
• Include an AI chatbot to answer more detailed medicine-related questions.
• Use OCR to scan handwritten prescriptions and show clear info.
• Add a doctor connect feature for live advice or emergency help.
• Improve the hardware design to make it smaller, more portable, and even easier to use.

We want to make MediKnow a go-to health assistant for anyone who needs quick, clear, and trusted medicine info — anytime, anywhere.

Built With

• arduino
• c
• dfplayer
• lcd
• mit-app-inventor
• rtc
• tts