This system was developed by the Simpler Spelling Association (SSA) in the U.S.A. It was developed from New Spelling.
New Spelling had apparently been rejected by the authorities in England because it seemed to be too drastically different from traditional spelling. So World English Spelling attempted to minimise the differences. For example, 'th' was retained for the sound in 'the', instead of 'dh' as in New Spelling (but 'thh' was used for unvoiced 'th' as in 'thhin' (thin)). But 'k' was kept as in 'kat', and also the system for long vowels, such as 'ae' for long 'a' as in 'maet' (mate).
So the result was an interesting improvement on New Spelling - but it still retained too many unnecessary differences from traditional spelling, as can be seen from a sample:
Forskor and seven yeerz agoe our faatherz braut forthh on this kontinent a
nue naeshon, konseevd in liberti, and dedikaeted to the propozishon that aul
men ar kreeaeted eekwal. Nou wee ar en.gaejd in a graet sivil wor, testing
whether that naeshon, or eni naeshon soe konseevd and soe dedikaeted, kan long
enduer. Wee ar met on a graet batlfeeld ov that wor.
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