7 Year Old Inspired By Her Grandmother Creates Medicine Reminder App

SAN RAMON, CA — For a lot of adults, coding is not part of their skill set. But to 7-year-old Advithi (Advi) Vemula, it’s really no big deal.

“I love animation and games and play them all the time so I wanted to learn coding,” she said.

So per her request, Advi’s mom enrolled her in BYJU’s FutureSchool, an online platform that teaches math, coding, music, arts and film through live one-on-one instructions.

Advi learned about a coding competition from her teacher called 18 Under 18 Fellowship. The global competition honors the top coding students under the age of 18.

An idea for the competition struck Advi while talking on FaceTime with her grandma. She noticed her grandma mentioning she sometimes struggles to remember to take her pills. She takes 10 to 12 a day for a defective heart valve condition and diabetes.

A lightbulb went off for Advi. An app that helps people keep track of their medicine intake.

“I want people like my grandma to use this app for whatever they need,” Advi said.

Advi created an app called MedReminder. It reminds people what medications they need to take, dosage, the dates of upcoming doctor visits and gives follow up tips.

She pitched the idea and suffice to say, her peers were impressed. After being shortlisted as a finalist and completing six mentorship sessions, her idea is now in the running.

“As we talk about it now I am getting goosebumps,” her mother told Patch. “At this tender age where kids don't know what they want to do - she is trying to think technically. I am very proud of her.”

As if creating an app that qualifies for a top prize in a coding competition isn’t enough for a girl who is only about to turn eight years old, she actually wants to add more to the app.

“I want to add prescription refill options and virtual consultations with the doctors. People won’t get so tired having to drive to so many doctor appointments,” she said.

And most importantly, hopefully her grandmother can get a little extra help.

“Now she wont be sick if she misses any pills and she’ll stay healthy,” Advi said.

For now, the app is a surprise. Advi plans to reveal it to her grandmother on a summer visit to India. Her mother said she’s been working on the app so much and is focusing now on finishing the school year. She’ll get back to any final touches next month, which is also when the next round of winners are supposed to be announced.

Winners receive help with a business model and further guidance on development. But for Advi, who plans to launch her app on Google Play in June regardless of the outcome, it's about helping people, especially her grandmother.

“I want people like my grandma to use this app for whatever they need," she said. "Now she will be able to live forever.”