1.
www.hcltech.com
Every year, millions of people are affected by their lifestyle, and chronic or degenerative diseases. Degenerative diseases
accounted for over 60% of all deaths in the late 1990s [1]. While people’s health may be slowly deteriorating, their depen-
dency on medication is increasing, with half the population taking at least one medicine a day, and a quarter requiring
multiple prescription medications daily[2]. As is human nature, people tend to forget to take their medications - leading to
health complications, tend to take improper dosages - resulting in overdosing or further ailments, or tend to simply dismiss
the notion that the medicine will help improve their health. In 2008, over 1.9 million people in the U.S. became sick due
to improper dosage or wrong medication [3]. Over 50% who are prescribed medicine, don’t take it, skip doses, or take
the wrong amount [4], and this lack of compliance, has led to the unnecessary hospitalization of millions, the deaths of
hundreds of thousands, and the loss of tens of billions of dollars in completely preventable healthcare costs [4].
Abstract
Almost 50% of Americans are on medication [5]. In 2013, their population was around 315 million [6]. A 2007 study
showed that close to 75% of people who were prescribed medication in the past twelve months, failed to fill it out, take
them on time, or took the wrong dosage, and this led to several billions of dollars of unnecessary healthcare costs, the
deaths of hundreds of thousands, and the hospitalization of many more[4].
A large source of the problem stems from ‘compliance’ to the given medication. And as the dependence on medication
grows, there is also the increasing danger of adverse reactions between conflicting medications. Drug related injuries and
illnesses cost the U.S. over $200 billion, annually, and this figure is just from preventable cases of non-compliant patients
[7].
While the problem of ‘compliance’ has been recognized as a very real threat to the health and safety of the public, there
are some steps being taken. These include weekly calls to check up and remind patients to medicate, weekly health
checkups, pill boxes that hold correct drug doses on a daily basis, and even smartphone and tablet apps that remind
users to take their medicines on time. However, smartphone alarms can be silenced, pills can still be forgotten to be taken
from the pill box, and doctors have no way to check if patients are lying about having taken their medication. Bringing in
a human to handle patient medication can become very expensive.
Market Trends and Challenges
Comply
WHITE PAPER
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2.
Solution
We propose an IoT enabled, Smart Pill Box, called ‘Comply’, with a digital display that keeps track of the current dosage
level as well as the remaining pills. The solution pairs with a smartphone/tablet app, to which complex tasks are offloaded.
The solution works alongside a wearable fitness monitor.
The elderly, pose additional difficulties for Doctors. An estimated 90% of Americans over 65 years of age are treated with
at least one medication for their chronic or lifestyle diseases [5]. Although they account for only 13% of the population, they
consume almost 40% of all prescription drugs, with the average 65 year old taking at least 14 different prescriptions
annually [8]. Several of them have poor vision, leading to genuine cases of pill mix ups and dosage changes. Most of them
use multiple prescriptions, and improper dosing of medications can be fatal. They are prone to memory loss, posing both
the problem of forgetting to take medication and forgetting they took their medication and overdosing.
The challenge here is to create a low cost solution that works across age groups without requiring any prior training.
Features
Body
Feature
Connectivity
Display
Data and Power
Alerts
Memory
Battery
Others
Plastic cube of 40mmX40mmX40mm, hollow for keeping the medication
REMARKS
Bluetooth 4.0
Top Facing LCD
2 male and female Micro USB 2.0 ports, for a total of four, one per side
Buzzer and set of LEDs
<4MB
500maH
CMOS with an internal clock that can be synced online
Diagrams
USB 2.0 Interconnects
LCD Display
4CM
4 CM
0.5CM

3.
Comply comes with an app that collates data from the individual Comply units. It can then analyze this data and send it
to the cloud.
Syncs with Comply over Bluetooth
Keeps track of all Comply boxes the user has registered, their individual pill count, dosage, time before refill, and
billing history and information
Sends out messages to the concerned pharmacy when medication runs low
Sends messages to doctors/physicians/nurses/care-takers when the user has not taken his/her medication after
repeated alerts/warnings.
Sends messages to the user/doctor in case his/her current medication has a known reaction with the new medication.
Monitors medication use, and gives doctor recommendations on equivalent medicines.
Features
Comply units can also be sold with a wearable SmartBand or be configured (via the Smartphone/Tablet App) to work with
generic models of fitness monitors. The Wearables must have sensors that collate the following data: Heart Rate/Pulse,
Temperature, Galvanic Skin response (to detect sweat) and an accelerometer.
Wearable SmartBand/Fitness Monitor
Application
Comply works by keeping a track of the pills and their quantity, and alerts users when to take their medication.
Initially, users need to take their Comply kits to the pharmacy when their doctors prescribe medicines, or Comply can be
sold at the pharmacy along with the medication. The pharmacist provides the required pills, one type each, in one Comply
unit, and updates the numbers for the units on the smartphone app. Dosage, times, and so on, may be entered as
required. The pharmaceutical register number of the medication, as stored on the Comply website, is also entered as part
of the data.
As programmed, Comply will remind the user to take the medication, through a variety of beeps, blinking, or a combina-
tion of all to alert the user. Comply will not turn off the alert until the user has physically opened the box and taken the
medication. At this point, Comply will display the dosage to be taken, the number of pills left, and how long before the user
will require a refill. Comply will also beep a certain number of times to denote the dosage for visually challenged users.
Comply can also ascertain if the user has taken the medication by correlating data from the wearable, which measures
changes in pulse rate and –in the future- blood sugar levels. Patients who have taken their medication will have markedly
different body parameters than those who have not.
After the user has taken his medication, Comply will then change the required counters as necessary. If the user attempts
to retake the medication, Comply will alert the user about his actions through the App and enquire if the user took the
wrong dose the first time or accidentally opened the Comply unit. Until the user responds on the App, the Comply Unit will
beep/flash to indicate a sign of danger.
All Comply units work independently of each other; but when connected through a matching set of protruding and
depressed interconnects, can communicate with each other.
This allows them to:
How Comply Works
Case Study

4.
Power each other. A single USB 2.0 connection charges multiple units at once.
Communicate with each other about the medications they contain. This, along with access to the Comply website and
smartphone app, will help users avoid taking medications that may not mix well.
Sync up, so as to provide a single alert for when the user has to take multiple medications. Individual units will still have
to have their individual lids opened, so the user must take all his medications, even though the group of Comply units
may alert him only once.
Once a new Unit has been joined to an existing Unit, medication information will sync over to the user’s primary
smartphone/tablet device. It will also display the user name and medication name on the LCD display. This will allow
users to easily add/remove units as their requirements change.
We see four large categories of consumers for Comply - Individuals, Pharmacies, Hospitals and Research Labs. Each will
be targeted through separate methods. Both Comply units and Wearables can be sold in a variety of colors, to allow for
personalization.
There are several planned methods of monetization:
Basic retail model: Comply units are sold in physical and online stores. Products are marketed through TV adverts, the
Internet, and Print media.
Pharmacy driven models: Pharmacies can sell Comply units while selling medication, keeping a cut of the profits. Marketing
is through direct channels.
Hospital driven models: Nurses and attendants will not be required to periodically check up on a patient’s medication intake,
since Comply will do that. Hospitals can thus reduce their staff, saving money. Comply can be leased out to hospitals or sold
in bulk quantities, who can then sell Comply to out-patients. Marketing is through direct channels, both to hospitals and
private practitioners. Similarly, Comply can be lent out or sold to Research Labs.
Monetization and Addressable Market
Product Monetization
Visual Representation of Data Flow
CLOUD
DATA CENTRE
Local Gateway
Data ConnectorAPI
Connector
Device
Sensors
Local Gateway
Data ConnectorAPI
Connector
Device
Sensors
Local Gateway
Data ConnectorAPI
Connector
Device
Sensors
Smartphone Application

5.
We assume that Comply should be out in the stores by the end of 2016, given its relatively simple construction and size.
Also, as Comply looks more like a gadget rather than a Smart Pill Box, we assume early adopters will take a hold of it first
before other market segments become comfortable with it.
For the first year, we assume modest sales of $1Mn, since people may require multiple Comply units. Sales will occur in
multiple models, as has been previously discussed. Growth rate is assumed to be a healthy 20%-30% for two years, after
which Comply is likely to explode. At this point, we predict growth rates in excess of 100%, since we would like to see more
pharmacies and hospitals bundling Comply along with medication to first-time and longtime customers. Growth rates will
stabilize over the next few years due to increasing competition and competitor products. Population data is available here
[10].
Growth Prospects
Growth Rate
YEAR
Affected
Population(Mn)
Units of
Comply(Mn)
Market Share
NA
2017
158.6
1.0
0.63%
30%
2019
162.3
1.6
0.96%
120%
2020
164.1
3.4
2.09%
80%
2021
165.9
6.2
3.72%
70%
2022
167.4
10.5
6.27%
60%
2023
169.1
16.8
9.94%
50%
2024
171.3
25.2
14.71%
40%
2025
173.2
35.3
20.37%
30%
2026
175.6
45.9
26.12%
20%
2018
160.8
1.2
0.75%
The total addressable market, or TAM, for Comply is the set of people taking any sort of prescription medication on a regular
basis. In the U.S., this was around 150 million in 2013.
Device Level: Developing UI/software/interconnects, should costing, system integration
Smartphone Level: Software development, Android/IoS/WP App Testing, network and connectivity management,
UI/functionality Devtesting, troubleshooting, sustenance.
Cloud Level: Patient/medication database management, big data analytics, maintenance (pushing firmware/software
updates) Dashboard UI and visualizations.
HCL-centric Monetization
Market Size
%Durg Users Vs Population
AxisTitle
400
300
200
100
0
1994 2002 2010 2018 2026
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%
0.00%
Population (in
millions)
Affected
Population (in
millions)
Percentage of
prescription drug
users

6.
Comply Growth Rate and Market Shares
200
150
100
50
0
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0
0.05
Affected Population (Mn) Units of Comply (Mn) Market Share
Common Issues and Challenges
A database of medicines is to be maintained on the cloud and constantly updated. Each medication will have to have its
own unique ID as well as the IDs of medications it is known to interact with.
While the device can alert and coerce the user into physically opening the unit, it cannot force the user in to taking the
medicine.
Comply cannot prevent the user from willingly overdosing. It can display the correct dosage on its display, but it is up to
the user to heed the instructions.
Comply is heavily reliant on the smartphone app for lower hardware complexity and costs.
Comply cannot physically monitor the medication within itself. It relies on the expertise of pharmacies and doctors to fill the
associated applications with correct information.
Comply’s Differentiators and Best Practices
Comply forces users to physically interact with the device and take their medicine.
Comply combines the smartphone app with alerts to doctors in case the user has not taken his medicine on time
or takes it irregularly. Any deviation from normal health conditions is measured with the Wearable.
Comply allows pharmacies to provide timely, reliable refills to the Comply units, as a value-add.
Comply can improve the collection of medical-relevant data. Any tests based on drug usage, side effects,
long-term effects, etc. can be monitored more effectively using Comply. And since Comply forces users to more
closely follow their prescriptions, any findings from these tests become more accurate.
The vast information collected from Comply units can also be analyzed to understand customer buying patterns
of medications based on medication size, shape, color, taste, etc. This can be used to improve the medication
and possibly boost its sales.
Doctors can change dosages from their smartphone app, which syncs across the internet, the user’s smart-
phone, and the Comply unit. This allows the flexibility to change dosages, knowing that Comply will not allow the
patient to use an obsolete dosage.

7.
Conclusion
References
As technology becomes more intertwined with our lives, we need to find a way for it to seamlessly improve all
aspects of our health and well-being. Comply allows users with no prior training to start taking their medication in
a timely and regulated manner. Comply also allows doctors to keep track of the health of their patients, collect
more accurate data on tests, and make better recommendations to future patients. The huge amounts of data
from Comply allows for a wealth of information to be accessed, leading to cross-product placements, direct
advertising, and much more. However, more than anything, Comply makes taking medications much more
simple, safe, and effective.
[1] Leading Causes of Death, 1900-1998: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/statab/lead1900_98.pdf
[2] Snapshot of medication use in the US: http://www.ashp.org/s_ashp/docs/files/PR_snapshot.pdf
[3] Medication-Related Injuries on the Rise:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/medication-relatd-injuries-on-the-rise/?_r=0
[4] Take meds faithfully: https://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pd-
f/best-buy-drugs/money-saving-guides/english/DrugComplianceFINAL.pdf
[5] Health, United States, 2013. Table 92, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus13.pdf#092
[6] U.S. Population 2013:
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2012/12/28/us-population-2013-more-than-315-million-people
[7] CVS Caremark Undertakes Multi-Year Study to Improve Patient Medication Adherence:
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/about_bwh/publicaffairs/news/pressreleases/PressRelease.aspx?PageID=563
[8] ASCP Fact Sheet: https://www.ascp.com/articles/about-ascp/ascp-fact-sheet
[9] Age and Sex Patterns of Drug Prescribing in a Defined American Population:
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2813%2900357-1/abstract
[10] Population Projections of the United States:
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/files/analytical-document09.pdf
author info
Samarth Bharani
HCL Engineering and R&D Services

8.
About HCL Enterprise
HCL is a $6 billion leading global technology and IT enterprise comprising two companies listed in India - HCL Technologies
and HCL Infosystems. Founded in 1976, HCL is one of India’s original IT garage start-ups. A pioneer of modern computing,
HCL is a global transformational enterprise today. Its range of offerings includes product engineering, custom and package
applications, BPO, IT infrastructure services, IT hardware, systems integration, and distribution of information and commu-
nications technology (ICT) products across a wide range of focused industry verticals. The HCL team consists of over
90,000 professionals of diverse nationalities, who operate from 31 countries, including over 500 points of presence in India.
For more information, please visit www.hcl.com
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