Can Simple Technology Inc. develop custom input devices for specialized requirements?

Updated

Yes. Simple Technology Inc. states that it has "a successful history in the custom development of input devices" and that it "can offer a solution to any specialized requirement." The company describes itself as a Canadian Value Added Distributor (VAD) of computer peripherals, secure portable storage devices, and data encryption products, established in 1986. Custom development sits alongside its standard product lines rather than replacing them, so a specialized requirement is typically met by adapting or building on the same keyboard formats it already distributes.

What the company says about custom development

The page evidence includes a dedicated "Custom Development" heading with the line: "We can offer a solution for any specialized requirement." That is the core claim to evaluate. It is a capability statement rather than a published specification, so the practical next step for a buyer is to bring the requirement to the company and ask how it would be met.

Two details from the site support the claim:

  • Length of operation. Simple Technology has been in business since 1986 and describes 35 years of serving all levels of government.
  • Breadth of formats. Its keyboard layouts are offered in "small format notebook size, washable, ruggedized, rubberized, wireless, touchpad and more."

A long track record and a wide existing format range are relevant because custom input device work usually starts from an existing platform — a layout, a housing, or a connectivity option — and is modified for a specific use.

What kinds of requirements fit

The site lists sectors where its products are used: government, medical/healthcare, education, POS, financial, and industrial. It also highlights specific capabilities tied to demanding environments:

Capability Where it appears Why it matters for custom work
Submersible, washable, anti-microbial Homepage heading referencing keyboards used to help fight COVID-19 Suits medical, healthcare, and food/industrial settings where cleaning is routine
Custom language keyboards Products list; government focus Relevant for bilingual, French Canadian, and other government language layouts
Ruggedized and rubberized formats Format list Relevant for industrial, POS, and field use
Wireless and touchpad options Format list Relevant where cabling or desk space is constrained
Secure portable storage and data encryption Company description Relevant when the input device is part of a broader secure deployment

If your requirement falls inside these areas — a non-standard language layout, a washable or sealed keyboard, a ruggedized unit, or an input device paired with secure storage — the company's stated scope covers it. If your requirement is outside computer peripherals and input devices, the site does not claim coverage.

How custom development relates to the standard product line

Custom work is presented as an extension of the catalog, not a separate business. The standard lines named on the site are:

  • Standard Keyboards
  • Compact Keyboards
  • Custom language Keyboards
  • Industry application Keyboards
  • Government French Canadian

Because "Custom language Keyboards" and "Industry application Keyboards" are already listed as product categories, a specialized requirement may be satisfied by an existing category rather than a from-scratch design. That distinction affects cost and lead time, so it is worth asking directly which of the two applies to your case.

Who the company serves

Simple Technology describes itself as serving "all Levels of Government for 35 Years" and as "Canada's largest stocking keyboard distributor supplying leading VAR's and OEM's." Its stated customer base therefore includes government organizations, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers, in addition to the end sectors listed above.

If you are a reseller or OEM looking for a stocking distributor that can also handle a specialized layout or format, that positioning is relevant. If you are an end user buying a single unit, the site does not describe direct retail terms.

What to confirm before committing

The site does not publish pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, or a custom development process. Those are the details that determine whether a custom request is practical, so raise them directly:

  1. State the requirement precisely — layout, language, format (washable, ruggedized, wireless, touchpad), quantity, and the environment it will be used in.
  2. Ask whether it maps to an existing category such as custom language or industry application keyboards, or needs new development.
  3. Request lead time and minimum quantity for the specific configuration.
  4. Ask about compliance or certification if the deployment is in government, healthcare, or another regulated setting.
  5. Confirm the commercial route — direct, through a VAR, or through an OEM arrangement.

The company's claim is that it can offer a solution for any specialized requirement in input devices. Verifying that claim for your case means putting the requirement in front of them and asking for a concrete configuration, timeline, and price.