SimpleC started as an academic research project in the departments of psychology and computer science at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall of 2002. The project proved that people who never thought they could gain access to the digital world would embrace a simple-to-use computer. 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.
In September 2006 SSI Innovations began developing a complete end-to-end Internet service that was based on the original University of Pennsylvania SimpleC project. Beta testing of the complete solution is currently underway in metro Atlanta in learning disability and senior living facilities. Through designing for those with the most difficulty, SimpleC contains usability improvements that benefit all users.
