Decorah will be the test market for a tablet computer aimed at seniors

Sims TV & Electronics stores in Decorah and West Union on Wednesday became the first retail locations anywhere in the country to offer a new tablet computer service aimed at people 75 and older.

The "grandPad" is the work of 1987 Luther College graduates Scott Lien and Jay Hansen and Decorah native Phil Sims, along with Lien's son, Isaac.  It features a simplified interface that allows seniors to Skype, share photos, send e-mails, check the weather, listen to music and other computer-based tasks.

Hansen tells decorahnews.com that the tablet computer was programmed with their own grandparents in mind.  He says when he would give his parents a computer, "They'd use it for a little while, then it would collect dust."

Sims says the grandPads display the applications seniors want--"Nothing more, nothing less."  Each customer is asked to name a family administrator who helps program the tablet computer.

Hansen says the developers used a simple technique to learn what seniors want when they use a computer: "We sent our developers to senior centers."  Since the tablets can be custom programmed, the features on each tablet will continue to evolve, based on what seniors use and want.

The grandPads are available on a subscription-only basis at a flat fee of $60 per month.