There is provided a device for monitoring the use of a blister package, strippackage, vialor bottle contents at a distance. A processor is connected to a compact randomorquasi-random n-microphone array and is programmed to detect the sound of thecontentbeing expelled from a blister cavity, strip package, or a cap being removedfrom a vial orbottle. A content use data memory associated with the processor storesinformationrelating to the expulsion or removal events. The processor is equipped withstatisticalmeans for differentiating the sound of the content being expelled, from thebackgroundnoise, generating an electrical signal that is analyzed for relevance tocontent useevents by the processor, and storing the resulting use data in memory. Theprocessormay have an adaptive beam focussing algorithm to determine the direction ofthe sourceof the sound.
