The Need For SimpleC

Sending an email message, finding directions on MapQuest, or researching a medical ailment on WebMD are common everyday Internet services that we take for granted in our digital society. But for many people these Internet services are not an option. Large segments of the population (senior, disabled, rural and ethnic) are being left behind as society becomes increasingly digitized.

Over 100,000,000 Americans currently do not use the internet and half of these are over the age of 50.

Physical and mental challenges associated with aging along with an increased digitized society combine to make computer technology almost impossible to use for this fastest growing segment of our population. As a result, large segments of our population are being left behind without the ability to use email, photo sharing and internet searches.

SimpleC’s Mission

SimpleC was designed from the ground up to be a complete, easy-to-use internet service for novice users. SimpleC is pioneering the way for millions of people, who never thought they could use a computer to communicate with family and friends, manage their healthcare needs, manage financial assets or simply stay in touch with society

The Inspiration Behind SimpleC

SimpleC started as an academic research project in the departments of psychology and computer science at the University of Pennsylvania. An intelligent front end was initially created through input from academic research, scientific studies, and observations gathered from teaching computer classes in the Philadelphia Senior Center and other Philadelphia area senior care and housing facilities. The project proved that a simple-to-use computer would be embraced by people who never thought they could gain access to the digital world.