Why screensavers were invented

Most modern computers can be set to switch the monitor into a lower power mode, blanking the screen altogether. A power-saving mode for monitors is usually part of the power management options supported in most modern operating systems , though it must also be supported by the computer hardware and monitor itself.

Additionally, using a screensaver with a flat panel or LCD screen instead of powering down the screen can actually reduce the lifetime of the display, since the fluorescent backlight remains lit and ages faster than it would if the screen were turned off completely. As fluorescent tubes age they grow progressively dimmer, and they can be expensive or difficult to replace.

In most cases, the tube is an integral part of the LCD and the entire assembly needs to be replaced. Notice also that screensavers may utilize a significant amount of CPU time, increasing power consumption in the process. Perhaps in response to the workplace environment in which they are often viewed, many screensavers continue this legacy of whimsy by populating the idle monitor with animals or fish, games, and visual expressions of mathematics equations through the use of fractals as in the Electric Sheep screensaver.

The ability of screensavers to divert and entertain is used for promotion, especially to build buzz for "event-based" products such as feature films. The screensaver is also an outlet for the work of creative computer programmers. The Unix -based screensaver XScreenSaver collects the display effects of other Unix screensavers, which are termed "display hacks" in the jargon file tradition of US computer science academics.

It also collects forms of computer graphics effects called demo effects , originally included in demos created by the demo scene. Screensaver software can also be used as a rudimentary security measure. Many screensavers can be configured to ask users for a password before permitting the user to resume work. However, a user might be able to circumvent the password by restarting the computer if the computer's owner has set their account to automatically log in upon startup.

On older versions of Microsoft Windows the native screensaver format had the potential to install a virus when run as a screen saver was just an ordinary application with a different extension. When any file with the file suffix ".

Modern versions of Windows can read tags left by applications such as Internet Explorer and verify the publisher of the file, presenting a confirmation to the user. In addition, on August 5, , the BBC reported that "free screensavers" and "screensavers" respectively were the first and third most likely search terms to return links to malware, the second being Bearshare.

The first screensaver was allegedly written for the original IBM PC by John Socha , best known for creating the Norton Commander ; he also coined the term screen saver. The screensaver, named scrnsave , was published in December issue of the Softalk magazine. It simply blanked the screen after three minutes of inactivity an interval which could be changed only by recompiling the program. The first screensaver that allowed users to change the activating time was released on Apple 's Lisa , in The Atari and 's screens would also go through random screensaver-like color changes if they were left inactive for too long.

The user had no control over this. These computers, released in , are technically earlier "screen savers. These are examples of screensavers in ROM or the firmware of a computer. Today with the help of modern graphics technologies there is a wide variety of different screensavers. Security - By setting up a screensaver with password protection, you can walk away from your computer and feel comfortable that nobody is going to be able to see any sensitive information.

Uniform look - Many companies require all employees to use a particular screensaver. This creates a uniform and perhaps aesthetic environment and ensures that no inappropriate screensavers are displayed.

Advertisement - Companies, particularly retail businesses, that have computers in areas accessible to customers will often have a screensaver that promotes their business or product. Information - A lot of screensavers provide either static or real-time information. A screensaver may cycle through a series of trivia questions.

Another may pull stock information from a Web site and stream it across the screen. Distributed computing - Another form of screensaver takes advantage of your computer's inactivity to process data from another source.

A good example of this type of screensaver is SETI Home , which is currently utilized by thousands of computer users. This screensaver displays a graph of the radio spectrum and processes radio-signal information received from the SETI Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence servers.

It sends back results based on the data processed. Over time, cathode-ray tubes were replaced by liquid crystal displays LCDs. Not only are LCD monitors smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient, they also run without phosphor—so you never have to worry about burn-in.

In fact, they might even be more fun, since graphics are more complex and the internet has many more options to choose from. Entertainment value is one of a few key reasons why screensavers have stuck around for so long.

Another is cybersecurity. Certain companies even require the use of screensavers for this reason. For other companies, screensavers function as a means of branding or even communication.