1. One or more tangible computer-readable storage media having executable instructions stored there on that, when executed by a computing device, implement a method comprising: storing a preferences and settings database that stores user preferences and settings; executing an adaptive computing environment (ACE) engine on the computing device, the ACE engine continually monitoring data from sensors of the computing device to detect changes in environment of the computing device, the environment including a user of the computing device, the ACE engine continually monitoring data from one or more user input devices to detect user behavior while the user interacts with arbitrary applications, the ACE engine, in accordance with the monitoring, altering the preferences and settings and controlling features of the arbitrary applications that the user interacts with, the ACE engine executing separately from the arbitrary applications and adapting the computing device according to the preferences and settings database; providing a user interface, the user interface for displaying windows for different applications; detecting, by the monitoring of the ACE engine, a user characteristic or behavior; and simplifying, by the controlling of user interface features by the ACE engine, the plurality of features provided to the user in response to the detected user characteristic or behavior, the simplifying comprising removing from one of the arbitrary applications advanced configuration options that are settable by the user to configure behavior of the one of the arbitrary applications, the advanced configuration options comprising user interface components that can be manipulated by the user to set options affecting behavior of the one of the arbitrary applications, the removing comprising causing the advanced configuration options to not be settable by the user thereby preventing the user from setting the configuration options by the user, wherein the ACE engine comprises an application separate from the one of the arbitrary applications.