Students' work makes PCs simple for seniors

Myles Arkell demonstrates his software

What started as Myles Arkell's attempt to teach his grandfather to use a computer has developed into a promising software business for two novice entrepreneurs.

Three years ago, Arkell, a Unitec computer student, found himself at Mangawhai Heads trying to help his grandfather master the intricacies of Microsoft Word.

When Arkell turned on his grandfather's PC, he found a Windows desktop littered with shortcut icons - the legacy perhaps of a forebear confused about the difference between left and right mouse clicks.

But things got worse. In front of the computer, his grandfather struggled to even open a document using the world's most common word processor.

Arkell resorted to plastering instructions and arrows across the screen, a solution he realised was far from ideal.

Back at Unitec, he shared the experience with two classmates and it eventually became the genesis of a six-month software development project required to complete their bachelor of computing systems degrees.

The aim was to develop a piece of software that was simple for non-expert computer users to operate, and which protected them from accidentally damaging their machines.

"We took it from there and worked quite hard on the project," says fellow student-turned-Arkell's business partner, Bradley Goldthorp.

"It turned out really well - we got an A at the end of it. We thought we should carry on."

The third student in the group, a Norwegian, returned home once the trio had completed their degrees, but Arkell and Goldthorp decided to try commercialising the project. They set up a company called Simpleware in 2004 and continued working on the software suite, developing a word processor, web browser and email client with simple functions and clear on-screen instructions.

After a further 18 months development, they began selling the $95 software package this year.

Arkell and Goldthorp have found a useful test bed and a fertile marketing niche in SeniorNet, the community network of support groups for over-55-year-olds keen to learn about computing. The duo have demonstrated the software to SeniorNet groups in Auckland and have provided free installation, upgrades and in-home support for early customers. This has provided valuable feedback for future improvements to the programs, Goldthorp says.

Although stripped-down word processing, browsing and email programs are common, Goldthorp says their market research did not throw up examples of similar complete packages designed to provide users with a safe operating environment. This suggested the possibility of selling Simpleware overseas as the business expanded.

He was heartened when he went to a preview of Microsoft's soon-to-be-released Office suite to find that the functionality appeared to have been simplified in the new software, with fewer pull-down menus, for example. That would make it easier for users to progress from Simpleware to standard software such as Microsoft's.

"There is a lot of great functionality in those programs but it's just hard when it's all on the screen all at once. You need to build a person up to something like that.

"The analogy we've gone with is it's like giving a 5-year-old a seventh-form [Year 13] text book. There's a lot of good information in that text book but if the 5-year-old's got no idea [and] no build-up to that there's no point throwing them in the deep end."

Grant Sidaway, a founder of SeniorNet in New Zealand who now works as Telecom's "ambassador" for the organisation, said any simplification of software which gave new users confidence was worthwhile.

"It's not that you would have to stay on a simplified version of software, but if it gives that person a jolt forward it's got to be fantastic."