Philips iPill -- it's like a regular pill, but with a microprocessor

It's been just about a year since we saw the patent for Philips' remote control "pill," and it looks like the thing is finally a reality. For those of you straining to remember that far back, the iPill (as it is now sadly known) is a miniature capsule that among its many charms contains a microprocessor, power supply, medicine reservoir and pump, and a radio so that it can remain in contact with external medical equipment. The pill's ability to accurately determine its position in the digestive tract enables it to deliver drugs precisely where they're needed, reducing dosage strength and side effects. According to Philips, the current design is a prototype, but it's suitable for serial manufacturing. Of course, this is not the first robot pill we've seen -- and it certainly won't be the last. Just the same, we think we'll refrain from swallowing any nanotech for the time being.

[Peter @ Nov 11th 2008 5:37PM]

Too much to swallow?

[bill cant fart @ Nov 11th 2008 5:52PM]

That's what she said!!

This also applies to 86% of all the comments in this article.

[rock99rock @ Nov 11th 2008 5:52PM]

I cant say it. I really want to, but i just cant.

[rock99rock @ Nov 11th 2008 5:54PM]

damnit fart.

...

Ive never cursed a fart before.

[bill cant fart @ Nov 11th 2008 5:55PM]

@rock

Sorry, 7 seconds too slow!

[linuxamp @ Nov 11th 2008 7:23PM]

Too hard to swallow? You're in luck. It's a suppository!

[StalematE @ Nov 11th 2008 5:37PM]

Introducing, the most advanced piece of technology you will ever poop out.

[tbone @ Nov 11th 2008 5:39PM]

where's the red and blue options?

[Dnns @ Nov 12th 2008 3:29AM]

Next to the spoon

[jak0b @ Nov 12th 2008 10:50AM]

there is no spoone...

[alf @ Nov 12th 2008 2:24PM]

the red and blue options:

red = don't swallow it [you're smarter than that and know better]
blue = swallow it and be even dumber than you were just before you swallowed it! [only now big brother REALLY has you by the short ones]

i trust this as far as i could throw an elephant. i'm sure everyone is aware of the implanted microchipping that's already around and more scary than sarah palin being vp!!! the govt wants to microchip EVERYONE, get rid of everything except electronic money, then have the power to turn off your money and not allow you to even buy food, much less participate in any reindeer games, if you don't do what they tell you to! this ipill is too much along those same lines! the NAU will be here soon enough, so for once, no thanks philips!

[JR @ Nov 11th 2008 5:42PM]

Here's hoping it's not meant to be reusable.

[Graham Wellington (formerly tyrone washington, or marsha goldberg) @ Nov 11th 2008 6:18PM]

a little a2m?

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 11th 2008 6:25PM]

"You never go ass to mouth-"




"-well, sometimes you do."

[ssoltero @ Nov 11th 2008 6:33PM]

Haha. I was thinking the same thing. God forbid if that's the case.

I can see so many illicit uses for that little device.

[lostarchitect @ Nov 11th 2008 5:43PM]

that picture makes me feel funny.

[bill cant fart @ Nov 11th 2008 5:44PM]

I don't think he's putting it in the right end...

[bill cant fart @ Nov 11th 2008 5:53PM]

she*

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 6:04PM]

bill you're on a rampage lately i tell ya. are you Anonymoose?

[Kamokazi @ Nov 11th 2008 8:52PM]

"Good news everyone! It's a suppository!"

[Jon Nelson @ Nov 12th 2008 4:10AM]

@ phanbouy

A Gizmodo reader commenting on Engadget?

...Wait, they can do that?

[DirtyVegas @ Nov 11th 2008 5:45PM]

Bet she wasn't swallowing a pill in the original pic.

[billy @ Nov 11th 2008 5:52PM]

but what else could she have been swallowing?

[KAIKAI @ Nov 11th 2008 8:23PM]

@iKurt

i hope you mean
iCantsingandigetpaidtomuchtotalkabouthoesthatiwouldneverget

[KAIKAI @ Nov 11th 2008 8:31PM]

fuck the engadget commenting system :(

[kal326 @ Nov 11th 2008 9:21PM]

Like a push-up bra, items are not as large as they appear.

[maveric101 @ Nov 11th 2008 5:48PM]

i'm really tired of companies sticking "i" in front of all their product names to capitalize on Apple's popularity. for that matter, i'm sick of Apple doing it too.

[Uncontrol @ Nov 11th 2008 6:20PM]

yeah man apple does this all the time still

like the iphone, and

and

fuck

[Jake Tobak @ Nov 11th 2008 6:26PM]

iPod and iMac and iBook and iTunes

[Mikeweezer @ Nov 11th 2008 6:26PM]

keep searching, keep searching, you'll find it...

iPod
iBook (no more)
iMac
iTunes
iCal

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 11th 2008 6:26PM]

Got a link to this iFuck? I'm actually interested.

[iKurt @ Nov 11th 2008 6:37PM]

iSouljaBoyTellem?

[Laughing Man @ Nov 11th 2008 8:58PM]

i(insert every product Apple has made in the last 20 years). He was right, it is annoying. If Apple wants to do it, fine. Just don't copy them, that is just...sad.

[Nick M. @ Nov 12th 2008 3:18PM]

for get all of these Apple products

mac book
mac book air
mac book pro
mac pro
apple tv
time capsule
airport extreme
airport express
xServe

oh....

[Aguiluz @ Nov 11th 2008 5:48PM]

I hope it isn't to scale, you know? It *should* be smaller... Much smaller.

[KAIKAI @ Nov 11th 2008 5:51PM]

thats what she said :P

[Ayman @ Nov 11th 2008 5:50PM]

Finally a pill that helps you process your digestive system more effectively

[Joshua S. @ Nov 11th 2008 6:05PM]

"Just the same, we think we'll refrain from swallowing any nanotech for the time being."

I don't really see anywhere in this or the original article that mentions nano-scale technology, so I wouldn't worry about having to swallow it.

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 6:12PM]

so which is it, spits or swallows?

[Derek @ Nov 11th 2008 6:08PM]

Good News everybody, it's a suppository!

[bangladeshiluv @ Nov 11th 2008 6:09PM]

ive seen the kind that vibrates

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 6:15PM]

thanks for sharing

[Engadgetier @ Nov 11th 2008 6:18PM]

" the iPill (as it is now sadly known) is a miniature capsule that...."

doesnt look to miniature to me.....

[Tired_ @ Nov 11th 2008 6:25PM]

Maybe they could work out some kind of sharing system with the utilities. The pills could have some chemicals in them to clean out the sewage pipes when they get down there, and then the utilities could collect them to be recycled into new robot pills.

[Cybergypsy @ Nov 11th 2008 6:29PM]

Those who brag, have nothing to brag about!

[Wwhat @ Nov 11th 2008 6:56PM]

Now for the short wait for 'professional athletes' find a way to use it to bypass drugs checks.

[MIchael @ Nov 11th 2008 7:30PM]

That pill is way too big to swallow. They should make it smaller.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 12th 2008 1:26AM]

Maybe you just suck on it..

[xor24 @ Nov 11th 2008 9:21PM]

We had better hope it's not a suppository and the picture is actual (or smaller then actual size) then i feel bad for anyone who has to use.

[xor24 @ Nov 11th 2008 9:23PM]

I think i for got to mention that i absolutely hate the name, I can almost stand it when Apple does that but it should be illegal for other compaies to do that cause it is real lame