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your card" (in the case of ATMs) visible even when the display changes while the machine is in use. Blanking the screen is out of the question as the machine would appear to be out of service. In these applications, burn-in can be prevented by shifting the position of the display contents every few seconds, or by having a number of different images that are changed regularly.
140:
and railway ticketing machines, the risk of burn-in is especially high because a stand-by display is shown whenever the machine is not in use. Older machines designed without burn-in problems taken into consideration often display evidence of screen damage, with images or text such as "Please insert
439:. The screensaver interfaces indirectly with the operating system to cause the physical display screen to be overlaid with one or more graphic "scenes". The screensaver typically terminates after receiving a message from the operating system that a key has been pressed or the mouse has been moved.
291:
screens would also go through random screensaver-like color changes if they were left inactive for about 8 minutes. Normal users had no control over this, though programs did. These computers, released in 1979, are technically earlier "screen savers". Prior to these computers, games for the 1977
617:
screen not powering down the screen can actually decrease the lifetime of the display, since the fluorescent backlight remains lit and ages faster than it would if the screen is turned off and on frequently. As fluorescent tubes age they grow progressively dimmer, and they can be expensive or
660:
platform, and later PC/Windows, which prominently featured whimsical designs such as "flying toasters". 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,
605:
for small LCD monitors to several hundred for large plasma displays. 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 modern
110:(CRTs). When the same image is displayed on a CRT screen for long periods, the properties of the exposed areas of the phosphor coating on the inside of the screen gradually and permanently change, eventually leading to a darkened shadow or "ghost" image on the screen, called a
176:
While modern screens are not susceptible to the issues discussed above, screensavers are still used. Primarily these are for decorative/entertainment purposes, or for password protection. They usually feature moving images or patterns and sometimes sound effects.
148:
than older models due to improvements in phosphor coatings, and because modern computer images are generally lower contrast than the stark green- or white-on-black text and graphics of earlier machines. LCD computer monitors, including the display panels used in
34:
629:– the best way to save the screen and also save electricity consumed by screen would simply be to have the computer turn off the monitor. Screensavers displaying complex 3D graphics might even add to overall power draw.
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304:
calculator from 1976 featured a screensaver, which consisted of a decimal point running across the display after 30 seconds of inactivity. This was chiefly used to save battery power, as the TI-30
272:
that it "blanks out the display after 15 minutes of nonactivity, preventing burned-in character displays." The first screensaver that allowed users to change the activating time was released on
1216:
880:
56:
that blanks the display screen or fills it with moving images or patterns when the computer has been idle for a designated time. The original purpose of screensavers was to prevent
741:
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
153:
computers, are not susceptible to burn-in because the image is not directly produced by phosphors (although they can suffer from a less extreme and usually non-permanent form of
1372:
78:
technology, which has individual pixels vulnerable to burnout), screensaver programs are still used for other purposes. Screensavers are often set up to offer a basic layer of
225:
Opposite his chair was a stereovision tank disguised as an aquarium; he switched it on, guppies and tetras gave way to the face of the well-known
Winchell Augustus Greaves.
1089:
395:
Screensavers are usually designed and coded using a variety of programming languages as well as graphics interfaces. Typically the authors of screensavers use the
768:
reported that "free screensavers" and "screensavers" respectively were the first and third most likely search terms to return links to malware, the second being
82:
by requiring a password to re-access the device. Some screensaver programs also use otherwise-idle computer resources to do useful work, such as processing for
589:
Atari computers, forcing systemic color changes when the computer is idle lasting a few minutes (different times depending on the model), stored in the system
1273:
1037:
133:
Screen-saver programs were designed to help avoid these effects by automatically changing the images on the screen during periods of user inactivity.
1204:
89:
As well as computers, modern television operating systems, media players, and other digital entertainment systems may include optional screensavers.
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352:
have allowed a wide variety of screensavers to be made. Screensavers with realistic 3D environments can be programmed and run on modern computers.
184:
before permitting the user to resume work. This is a basic security measure against another person accessing the machine while the user is absent.
180:
As screensavers are generally expected to activate when users are away from their machines, many screensavers can be configured to ask users for a
1337:
622:. In most cases, the tube is an integral part of the LCD and the entire assembly needs to be replaced. This is not true of LED backlit displays.
872:
1066:
1007:
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magazine. It simply blanked the screen after three minutes of inactivity (an interval which could be changed by recompiling the program).
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907:
1212:
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300:, included color cycling in order to prevent burn-in of game images into 1970s-era televisions. In addition, the first model of the
819:
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20:
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Monitors running screensavers consume the same amount of power as when running normally, which can be anywhere from a few
847:
1392:
1382:
1118:
690:, told a humorous animated story over many months. The ability of screensavers to divert and entertain is used for
217:
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404:
757:
to install itself. Modern versions of
Windows can read tags left by applications such as Internet Explorer and
396:
137:
74:(hence the name). Though most modern monitors are not susceptible to this issue (with the notable exception of
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in the xcode project, so that when the screensaver is launched by the system, this class gets instantiated.
448:
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project). This allows applications to use resources only when the computer would be otherwise idle. The
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tradition of US computer science academics. It also collects forms of computer graphics effects called
1329:
749:, Windows would execute the .scr (screensaver) file automatically: this had the potential to allow a
349:
642:
467:
259:
192:
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83:
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collects the display effects of other Unix screensavers, which are termed "display hacks" in the
528:
212:
451:, check if the active program is a simple program (and not another screensaver) by sending the "
1183:
947:
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display was more power intensive than later LCD models. These are examples of screensavers in
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79:
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difficult to replace. A typical LCD screen loses about 50% of its brightness during a normal
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53:
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783:, the bubbles are smaller, and there are more bubbles on screen. The user must use the
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428:
323:
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68:
60:
1082:"MAK Vienna Becomes First Museum to Use Bitcoin to Acquire Art, a Harm van den Dorpel"
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37:
27:
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will run it unintentionally. In addition, this program should support the following
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957:
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412:
119:
933:
411:("Open Graphics Library", which works on many, if not most, platforms capable of
742:
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715:
666:
610:, though it must also be supported by the computer hardware and monitor itself.
330:
319:
165:
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If the system detects inactivity lasting longer than the time specified in the
1147:
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841:
820:"Screensaver (Inventor of) by Robert Heinlein from Stranger in a Strange Land"
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In 2015 the screensaver "Event
Listeners" of van den Dorpel became the first
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196:
459:" argument. If the program calls in response the standard system function (
33:
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562:
Under macOS, screensavers are regular macOS application bundles with the
313:
181:
57:
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The screensaver is also a creative outlet for computer programmers. The
211:
Decades before the first computers using this technology were invented,
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342:
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introduced "daydreams", screensavers that activate while the device is
251:
16:
Computer program that blanks the screen or fills it with moving images
408:
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230:
150:
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Internally, the screensaver must define a class that is subclass of
400:
636:
586:
479:
301:
164:
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With no parameter – shows the
Settings dialog box or do nothing.
19:
This article is about the computer software. For other uses, see
706:
699:
602:
432:
75:
1140:"ScreenSaverView - ScreenSaver | Apple Developer Documentation"
540:
Shows the
Settings dialog box, modal to the foreground window.
187:
Some screensavers activate a useful background task, such as a
775:
By launching the "bubbles" screensaver executable through the
765:
359:
305:
103:
463:), the screensaver defined in the control panel screen runs.
229:
The first screensaver was allegedly written for the original
1059:"MAK Collection Online: Event Listeners by van den Dorpel"
873:"How to Fix Screen Burn-In on TVs: Plasma, LCD, and OLED"
973:"Z-29, a New Computer Terminal from Zenith Data Systems"
376:
215:
gave an example of how they might be used in his novel
122:
and other devices that use CRTs are all susceptible to
1330:"How to Run Screensaver As Wallpaper in Windows 11/10"
1172:"Science Fact or Science Fiction: Fluorescent Lights"
262:
executive included "screen-saver" among the new Z-29
531:) of the window in which the preview should appear.
485:
file, and thereby increase likelihood that users of
625:Thus the term "screen saver" is now something of a
843:Einstein@Home Screensaver | Multi-Directional 2.07
249:, was published in the December 1983 issue of the
223:
998:"How to Set Up Android's Daydream Screensaver"
203:is sometimes used to bring the image to life.
814:
812:
585:As one of the first screensavers appeared in
519:Previews the screensaver as child of window.
106:screens, most computer screens were based on
8:
435:screensavers are created and designed using
26:".scr" redirects here. For CAD scripts, see
1373:Computer-related introductions in the 1970s
1239:"Why Screen Savers Are No Longer Necessary"
1111:"INFO: Screen Saver Command Line Arguments"
1262:Emrich, Johnny L.; Wilson (January 1993).
1030:"5+ Cool Uses for Android's Daydream Mode"
725:, such as were originally produced by the
554:. Windows 95 screensavers must handle it.
431:), to craft their final products. Several
1323:
1321:
761:, presenting a confirmation to the user.
613:Using a screensaver with a flat panel or
478:authors to add ".scr" to the name of any
144:Later CRTs were much less susceptible to
32:
808:
745:".scr" was opened, for example from an
1264:"The Misadventures of Johnny Castaway"
172:has an option for password protection.
1237:Hoffman, Chris (September 16, 2016).
903:SETI@home Screensaver | Enhanced 5.27
348:Modern graphics technologies such as
7:
871:Phillips, Gavin (January 24, 2020).
573:. The new class must be assigned as
201:Ken Burns panning and zooming effect
1080:Ghorashi, Hannah (April 24, 2015).
996:Walter, Derek (December 29, 2015).
779:command-line parameter, it runs as
698:for "event-based" products such as
466:A Windows screensaver is a regular
1213:United States Department of Energy
1028:Hoffman, Chris (August 26, 2013).
550:Changes password, modal to window
403:programming languages, along with
296:gaming console such as Combat and
14:
1295:"Warning on Search Engine Safety"
1180:Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
656:was an early screensaver for the
136:For CRTs used in public, such as
1328:Khanse, Anand (March 18, 2019).
1069:from the original on 2022-02-05.
759:verify the publisher of the file
363:
1340:from the original on 2022-01-21
1307:from the original on 2009-02-24
1276:from the original on 2016-07-02
1219:from the original on 2019-03-22
1153:from the original on 2018-09-25
1121:from the original on 2014-02-02
1040:from the original on 2021-12-14
1010:from the original on 2021-12-14
910:from the original on 2022-09-29
883:from the original on 2024-01-26
850:from the original on 2022-09-03
1205:"When to Turn Off Your Lights"
971:Chin, Kathy (April 11, 1983).
669:equations (through the use of
339:Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna
21:Screen Savers (disambiguation)
1:
474:file extension. This enables
665:, and visual expressions of
415:), or alternatives such as
341:) using the cryptocurrency
1411:
935:Stranger in a Strange Land
684:At least one screensaver,
677:or other means) as in the
641:XScreenSaver displaying a
241:; he also coined the term
237:, best known for creating
218:Stranger in a Strange Land
25:
18:
981:. p. 13 – via
932:Heinlein, Robert (1987).
787:to stop the screensaver.
405:Graphics Device Interface
245:. The screensaver, named
195:application (such as the
333:that was purchased by a
764:On August 5, 2006, the
523:(presented as unsigned
356:Underlying architecture
40:interactive screensaver
1388:Utility software types
694:, especially to build
648:
505:Runs the screensaver.
227:
173:
41:
1269:Computer Gaming World
846:, 21 September 2020,
737:On older versions of
640:
419:(which is limited to
266:'s features, telling
168:
102:Before the advent of
36:
527:) is an identifier (
455:" message with the "
377:adding missing items
350:3D computer graphics
1393:Volunteer computing
1144:Developer.Apple.com
777:bubbles.scr /p65552
709:-based screensaver
468:Portable Executable
260:Zenith Data Systems
193:volunteer computing
114:. Cathode-ray tube
84:volunteer computing
1383:Display technology
1334:TheWindowsClub.com
940:New York, New York
830:on March 18, 2015.
675:Fourier transforms
649:
647:-style screensaver
423:platforms, mainly
375:; you can help by
213:Robert A. Heinlein
174:
42:
781:desktop wallpaper
739:Microsoft Windows
733:Microsoft Windows
608:operating systems
593:of the computer.
487:Microsoft Windows
443:Microsoft Windows
425:Microsoft Windows
417:Microsoft DirectX
393:
392:
264:computer terminal
170:GNOME Screensaver
155:image persistence
108:cathode-ray tubes
98:Screen protection
72:computer monitors
1400:
1378:1970s neologisms
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1312:
1303:. May 12, 2006.
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1182:. Archived from
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1088:. Archived from
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826:. Archived from
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747:email attachment
620:product lifetime
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575:NSPrincipalClass
572:
566:file extension.
565:
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543:ScreenSaver.scr
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534:ScreenSaver.scr
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508:ScreenSaver.scr
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499:ScreenSaver.scr
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239:Norton Commander
130:to some extent.
124:phosphor burn-in
54:computer program
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946:. p. 448.
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687:Johnny Castaway
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571:ScreenSaverView
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437:Quartz Composer
407:(GDI), such as
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316:of a computer.
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128:plasma displays
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31:
24:
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1272:. p. 16.
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679:Electric Sheep
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597:Considerations
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525:decimal number
507:
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470:(PE) with the
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429:Microsoft Xbox
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294:Atari VCS/2600
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112:screen burn-in
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1243:HowToGeek.com
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1186:on 2011-10-28
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700:feature films
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681:screensaver.
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461:DefWindowProc
457:SC_SCREENSAVE
453:WM_SYSCOMMAND
450:
449:control panel
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384:February 2014
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371:This list is
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38:Einstein@Home
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29:
28:CadSoft EAGLE
22:
1368:Screensavers
1354:
1342:. Retrieved
1333:
1309:. Retrieved
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1289:
1278:. Retrieved
1267:
1257:
1246:. Retrieved
1242:
1232:
1221:. Retrieved
1208:
1199:
1188:. Retrieved
1184:the original
1175:
1166:
1155:. Retrieved
1143:
1134:
1123:. Retrieved
1105:
1094:. Retrieved
1090:the original
1085:
1075:
1062:
1053:
1042:. Retrieved
1033:
1023:
1012:. Retrieved
1001:
991:
983:Google Books
976:
966:
958:Google Books
956:– via
934:
927:
917:– via
912:. Retrieved
902:
896:
885:. Retrieved
876:
866:
857:– via
852:, retrieved
842:
836:
828:the original
823:
785:Task Manager
774:
763:
736:
722:demo effects
720:
714:
711:XScreenSaver
704:
685:
683:
651:
650:
643:
624:
612:
600:
584:
568:
561:
552:<HWND>
549:
539:
521:<HWND>
518:
504:
495:
493:parameters:
491:command line
465:
446:
413:3D rendering
394:
381:
347:
328:
318:
282:
267:
257:
250:
246:
243:screen saver
242:
228:
224:
216:
210:
186:
179:
175:
161:Modern usage
143:
135:
132:
101:
88:
50:screen saver
49:
45:
43:
1086:ArtNews.com
1003:Tom's Guide
743:file suffix
716:Jargon File
667:mathematics
663:video games
331:work of art
320:Android 4.2
280:, in 1983.
116:televisions
46:screensaver
1362:Categories
1344:2022-01-21
1311:2010-06-07
1280:2014-07-05
1248:2024-07-13
1223:2019-03-22
1209:Energy.gov
1190:2022-01-12
1157:2018-09-25
1148:Apple Inc.
1125:2014-02-01
1096:2024-07-13
1044:2021-12-14
1014:2021-12-14
914:2022-09-18
887:2022-09-18
854:2022-09-18
803:References
797:Degaussing
653:After Dark
483:executable
373:incomplete
258:By 1983 a
235:John Socha
189:virus scan
86:projects.
1115:Microsoft
978:InfoWorld
770:BearShare
727:demoscene
692:promotion
658:Macintosh
421:Microsoft
285:Atari 400
269:InfoWorld
197:SETI@home
126:, as are
1338:Archived
1305:Archived
1300:BBC News
1274:Archived
1217:Archived
1151:Archived
1119:Archived
1067:Archived
1038:Archived
1008:Archived
908:Archived
881:Archived
848:archived
791:See also
671:fractals
627:misnomer
427:and the
314:firmware
298:Breakout
247:scrnsave
221:(1961):
182:password
80:security
58:phosphor
944:Penguin
919:YouTube
859:YouTube
755:malware
615:TFT LCD
476:malware
343:bitcoin
312:or the
252:Softalk
207:History
146:burn-in
93:Purpose
61:burn-in
52:) is a
1176:CBC.ca
950:
644:Matrix
564:.saver
529:handle
409:OpenGL
335:museum
324:docked
231:IBM PC
151:laptop
69:plasma
751:virus
603:watts
587:8-bit
581:Atari
558:macOS
480:win32
302:TI-30
289:800's
274:Apple
191:or a
948:ISBN
707:Unix
696:buzz
472:.scr
433:OS X
287:and
283:The
278:Lisa
138:ATMs
76:OLED
48:(or
766:BBC
753:or
591:ROM
545:/a
512:or
401:C++
399:or
379:.
310:ROM
306:LED
276:'s
233:by
157:).
104:LCD
67:or
65:CRT
63:on
1364::
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1320:^
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536:/c
514:/l
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