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Letter: Touchy-feely better than glowing for e-skin

Published 21 March 2018

From John Davnall, Radcliffe, Lancashire, UK

Edd Gent suggests that an “e-skin” could provide a visible reminder to elderly people when medication needs to be taken (24 February, p 7).

Something similar could be useful for those with visual impairments if it had a tactile rather than a visible reminder. Perhaps combining both may also allow a carer to notice the need.

There might be times when a tactile sign would be preferred anyway – not everybody wishes to advertise that they are on medication. Taking the idea to extremes, if the signal were an itch, it might be possible to make it increasingly aggravating as the dose becomes more overdue.

And finally – elderly people aren't the only group that includes individuals who forget to take their medication. A bit of ageism crept into your article there, if only in a quotation.

Issue no. 3170 published 24 March 2018

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