I remember our first computer.  It was the first Macintosh model ever - complete with a mouse (with only one button), a 3.5 inch floppy disc drive (not even floppy, I always thought it was silly to continue calling discs that), and an impressive 9 inch screen!!

My, times have changed - and continue to change today.  Everything is done by email and internet these days.  For many people, the mentality is “Why snail mail when you can email?”  “Why go to the mall when you can shop online?”

But not everyone has that mentality.  For example, my grandmother.  We don’t live in the same city, and I think if she was able to use email, we’d be able to be more in touch.  The problem is she didn’t grow up using computers, so it makes sense that they seem very complicated to her.

It looks like a company in the UK has a solution.  It’s a new, simplified computer - easy to use, and without all the bells and whistles that would otherwise be unneccessary to someone like my grandmother.

The SimplicITy computer looks like any other desktop computer, only when THIS computer boots up, you get a simple, straightforward screen with four basic options: email, web, chat, and documents.  This computer was specifically designed with elderly users in mind.  It lays everything out in a very simple way, eliminating any unneccessary or confusing aspects.  There are no drop-down menus, right-clicking, or windows to re-size.

There aren’t too many options, and it’s very hard to get “lost” while navigating around this computer.  But if you do have a problem, there’s always the option on every page to click and go back to “Square One” - which is the opening screen with your basic options.

They also include video tutorials for every aspect of the computer so there’s no class to take, and step-by-step instructions just in case you ever get confused.

After browsing this computer online, I immediately wanted to buy one for my grandmother for Christmas.  But unfortunately, this company is not shipping it around the world just yet.  The next-best thing in North America is software that you can install to simplify an existing system - like Windows.  But to be honest, they don’t look quite as well-laid out and straight forward as the SimplicITy computer, which sends you everything - the computer, screen, keyboard, mouse, speakers… all you need to have is a wall socket and broadband internet.