A Screensaver is a program which gets activated automatically after a computer monitor or a cell phone has been inactive for some time. When it gets activated, it displays a blank screen or moving images. The time duration after which a Screensaver gets automatically activated can be defined by the user. For instance, if the user defines twenty minutes as the time duration, Screensavers get activated the moment there is inactivity for twenty minutes. Originally, the purpose of a Screensaver, as the name implies, was to save the screen by preventing a fixed display from damaging the screen. Fixed displays would attack the screen at the same places, by virtue of their fixed nature, and would cause damage to those portions of the screen which were under attack. In scientific parlance, this phenomenon is referred to as screen burn. Screen burns often damaged Cathode Ray Tube or CRT monitors, causing distortion, such as blurred images, additional vertical or horizontal lines, and faded patches. In CRT monitors, images are formed by electron beams that focus on the same points on the screen. The repeated formation of the same images would target the same points on the screen and damage them. Therefore, the objective of the Screensaver was to constantly change images on the screen so that no particular points were constantly under attack. However, with the evolution in technology, Screensavers are not essential. More and more people have discontinued the use of CRT monitors. Yet Screensavers are still used for other purposes. These days, Screensavers are used for what can be called visual relief. Often when users are working on something, instead of staring at the same screen the sight of a colorful Screensaver is a sight for sore eyes. This probably explains why there are millions of Screensavers that users can choose from. Some people like to look at the changing facial expressions of their favorite celebrities while taking a break from work. Others like to look at picturesque locations that are replete with natural beauty. Still others love to watch animation which features their favorite cartoon characters. Some people also like to look at their favorite sport being played on screen. Screensavers can also be accompanied with music. There are almost as many Screensavers as people, and, therefore, plenty of options to choose from. Sometimes, particularly at the workplace, people use Screensavers for branding and advertising. The Screensaver displays the logo of a company, the vision statement of the company, the quality policy or the values of a company. In addition to advertising and branding, this use of the Screensaver also adds a touch of professionalism to the workplace, by generating uniformity. |
