Arrangements are provided for “smart” functionality with “dumb” containers, such as for tracking medication use to determine adherence. An acoustic emitter such as a whistle is engaged with a container such as an eye drop bottle. An event such as dispensing medication or opening the container causes a characteristic acoustic emission, such as an ultrasonic pitch of specific frequency. The emitter may be purposefully configured to produce the emission, may operate so that the emission is a natural consequence of dispensing medication (or other event), and may operate transparently to the user. The emitter may be part of a larger remote, such as a squeezable air-filled shell with an aperture to accept the container. A cell phone or other station receives the acoustic emission, and if a processor thereof determines that the emission is characteristic of the emitter the event is recorded, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise registered.
