Screensavers were originally used to prevent “burn-in” on CRT monitors, but are now popular for their aesthetic value. LCD monitors can still experience image persistence, but screensavers are no longer necessary for preventing burn-in. Default and third-party screensavers are available, and users can also create their own with software programs. Seasonal and promotional screensavers are also popular.
A screensaver is a moving, rotating, or changing image that activates when a monitor is left idle for a specified amount of time. Screensavers were especially useful for cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors which were in widespread use before liquid crystal displays (LCD) replaced them. CRT monitors were prone to “burn-in,” or the tendency for a static image to leave a permanent, ghostly replica of itself printed on the screen if the display remained unchanged for too long. Configuring a screensaver to launch during idle times helped prevent burn-in.
Although LCD monitors are made with a different technology that is not susceptible to burn-in, they can be subject to what manufacturers like to call “image persistence”. The polarized crystals that filter color to create an image can retain memory if forced to view the same color for a retracted period of time. This usually doesn’t happen if the display is turned off for several hours a day, such as overnight.
While image persistence isn’t the problem that burn-in once was, screensavers have become popular in their own right and many people configure their desktops to switch to a screensaver after a period of time for the sheer pleasure of it . The amount of idle time is user configurable and any mouse or keyboard action will instantly turn off the screensaver and return the desktop to its previous state.
Operating systems come with a handful of default screensavers, many of which can be viewed when you go through the computers at your local dealer. Changing geometric patterns, underwater scenes with passing fish and criss-crossing logos are some of the most common screensavers. Third-party screensavers can be very nice, and many screensaver programs are available for free. You might opt for scenes of national parks, breathtaking sunsets, famous places or a journey to the cosmos.
If you’re a TV fan, consider visiting your favorite network’s website to see if they offer a promotional screensaver for your favorite show. HBO and Showtime happily provide screensavers of their most popular shows, free for anyone to download.
A seasonal screensaver can also be a nice change of pace. Many websites offer a plethora of choices for adding Christmas cheer or mood to your computer display. Consider a fireplace with a roaring fire, Santa’s workshop, or a haunted house if you’re in the mood.
You can also create your own screensaver with pictures or movies of your friends, family and pets. There are many software programs available to help you create a custom screensaver and assign it to your desktop.
We’ve come a long way since the 1990s, when whimsical images like “flying toasters” and the marching Energizer® bunny were all the rage, but whatever your preference, it’s a nice surprise to walk past your computer and notice a screensaver at work . Use any search engine to look for free screensavers and programs for creating them.
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