Haven

In testing: not ready to download yet

A calm computer.

Haven is a free operating system built around autistic people of every age and ability, and the people who support them.

You're safe here. Go out when you're ready. Come back whenever you need.

What would help you? Tell us
Haven's logo: a window at night, with the moon rising over still water.

Calm by design

Most computers are built to grab attention. Haven is built to stay out of the way.

Nothing changes by surprise

Buttons stay where they are. Nothing rearranges itself, and every change shows who made it, with a way to put it back.

Never too loud

A volume limit for everything: every app, every website, Haven's own voice. Sudden loud parts are evened out.

No flashing

Videos and animated pictures that flash are softened or stopped, on Haven's pages and on every website.

Warnings before changes

A calm "time for…" before an activity ends, as early as the person needs. A timer that shows time going, without numbers ticking.

A calm place, one press away

Calm is always there: a slow breathing circle, quiet sounds, the person's own "what helps me".

Updates only when chosen

Nothing installs by itself. A carer sees what's new in plain words, it takes effect at the next restart, and it can always be undone.

Haven's Home screen: big picture tiles for My Day, Favourites, Talk, Calm, Messages, Playground, Websites, How-to, Music, Photos, About me and Draw.
Home: big pictures, with words for people who want them.

For the whole spectrum

Haven is set up around the person, not a diagnosis. A few questions at the start (how they talk, read, press, what their senses need, what they love) and Haven sets itself up from the answers. Everything can be changed later.

  • PicturesPictures only, the biggest buttons, said aloud.
  • SimplePictures with a few words.
  • Calm desktopAn ordinary computer where nothing moves, beeps or pops up.
  • IndependentEverything on, for adults who run their own computer.
Quick phrases: I can't talk right now, I can hear you. Please write it down, or text me. I need help. With a talking status: I can talk, Talking is hard right now, I can't talk right now.
Talk: a picture board that speaks, and quick phrases for when talking stops.
The Timer: choose what the time is for, such as Until we go or Until food, then how many minutes.
Timer: a disc that gets smaller as the time goes.
First–Then: pictures to choose what comes first, such as Eat, Bath, Outside or Music.
First–Then: "first shoes, then the park", with Haven's pictures or the person's own.
Phone call help: Booking an appointment, Changing or cancelling, Asking a question, Ordering food, Saying I can't come in, A meeting, Calling someone I know, Make my own.
Calls and meetings: plan what to say, then follow it one line at a time.

See what Haven does, screen by screen, or try its set-up: choose some answers and watch Home change.

Also: a visual day plan with warnings before each change, Favourites (shelves of the things a person loves, read left to right), Messages with only people they know, step-by-step How-to guides, Energy and feelings, an About me card, Draw, Music, Photos, reading help, and switch and dwell access for people who can't press easily.

Safe, and private

Carers support, never spy

Carers can set things up and help from far away. But every change is shown to the person, with who made it. Adults who run their own computer say yes or no to every change. Supporters get only the parts they're given, and their access ends unless it's renewed.

Nothing about the person leaves the computer

No accounts to sign in to, no adverts, no tracking. Messages only with people they know. Calm visits are never recorded, and nobody else sees how the person said they feel unless they choose to share it.

Safer online

Calm questions before buying something or typing a card number, warnings about scams in messages, and only the websites chosen for each person, if that's what they need.

Hard to break

Every restart starts fresh, so nothing can quietly go wrong over time. The person's own things are kept safe, and backups can go to a USB stick or another computer at home.

Haven AI, with guard rails

An optional helper that runs on the computer itself. Nothing is sent anywhere, and it's off unless someone switches it on.

Helps with Haven

"How do I make a playlist?" gets the steps, from Haven's own guide.

Explains what's on screen

"What's on my screen?" or a hard word on a website: explained in short, plain sentences.

Does things, if wanted

Start a timer, open a page, sort saved videos onto their shelves: only from a fixed list, and it asks first.

It can never delete anything, buy anything, install anything, message anyone, or change safety settings: those actions don't exist for it. Worrying words are never looked up; they bring a calm card with "Tell my person" instead.

Calm: a slow breathing circle with a leaf, Show my About me card, and calm things to do: Lava lamp, Bubbles to pop, Ripples, Deep hum, Light rain.
Calm, in the dark colours some people prefer.

Where it's at

  1. Built and tested on virtual computers. Every part works on test machines.
  2. Testing on real computers. Sound, Wi-Fi, USB sticks, graphics and speed.
  3. Talking with autistic adults and carers. What helps, what doesn't, and what's missing.
  4. Free download. When it's ready, and not before.

Haven isn't ready for families yet. When it is, it will be a free download: put it on a USB stick, answer a few questions, and it's set up.

You can help now. Tell us what's hard about computers today, and what would help: a few questions with pictures, about 5 minutes, no name needed.

What would help you? Tell us

Free, open, and staying that way

Haven is free software (GPL-3.0), built on NixOS and Linux. The code will be published openly. Haven is supported by donations only: no adverts, no data, no paid features. A way to donate is coming.