Why we exist
The Ken exists to remove the barriers to human connection.
We have an ageing population and technology that never slows down, and millions of people are being left on the wrong side of that gap.
We're a team who've felt the strain of keeping in touch with ageing relatives, and we had the skills to build something that could help. So we did.
The problem
Millions of people are effectively unreachable.
For someone who struggles with technology, a smartphone or tablet is a barrier. The screen is too small, the icons are unfamiliar, there are too many steps, and the language is too technical.
So families who want to stay close can't. The video call won't connect, or the message goes unread.
"This is great; phones are too small, I can't use them."
Ken's grandfather (the device's namesake)
Our answer
Simply keeping in touch, without the technology getting in the way.
We keep people connected to their family and friends, without the technology getting in the way. The Ken is built from the ground up for people that mainstream phones and tablets have left behind.
For the person buying it
You get a dashboard, not a hope for the best.
The Ken comes with an admin portal, built for the person buying it as much as the person using it.
From your phone or computer you can add contacts, send photos, change settings, and set reminders, all without being in the same room. You can see call activity, message history, and whether the Ken has been used recently.
When a medication reminder is missed, the portal tells you and the other family members you've authorised. You know they're OK without having to ask.
The Ken is simple for them. The portal is built for you.
Scam-safe by design
Approved contacts only. No exceptions.
The Ken accepts calls and messages only from contacts you've approved in the admin portal. There's no phone number, no email, no web browser and no app store, so cold callers, fraudsters and phishing messages have no way in.
Scams targeting older and vulnerable people rise every year. The Ken removes the whole problem: if someone isn't on the approved list, they can't make contact, and they don't even know the Ken exists.
You decide who can call and message, and you can add or remove contacts remotely at any time. They see only the people they know and trust.
A closed system is a safe system. Only faces they recognise, only voices they know.
Purpose-built
No distractions. No exceptions.
- No social media
- No emails
- No unapproved contacts
- No addictive features
- No complex gestures - no pinching, swiping, or multi-finger input
- No web browser
- No app store - no accidental downloads, subscriptions, or purchases
- No passwords to remember
One Ken, built to do one job: keep families in touch when phones and tablets get in the way.
Our ethic
Quiet by design, never engineered to hook.
Most screens are built to hold your attention: badges, streaks, endless feeds, small rewards that pull you back. The Ken has none of that, on purpose.
A device meant to reconnect someone with the people they love should never be built to keep them staring at it. So the Ken earns its place by being useful, a call that connects and a face that appears, and stays quiet the rest of the time.
Our principles
Three things that will never be compromised.
Simplicity
Intuitive by design. No complex gestures, no confusing menus, no learning curve.
Autonomy
It stays their Ken. They choose who to call and answer, and keep their independence.
Dignity
The user feels respected and capable, never patronised.
Ready to keep your family connected?
Register your interest and we'll let you know when The Ken is available.
Register interest