Use of Screensavers

The main purpose of screensavers is to prevent burn-in of computer monitors. But screensavers have evolved to be more than just a preventive maintenance on computer monitors; in fact, screensavers have been developed through the years to provide entertainment, security and information.

The first screensaver had only a black screen without any pictures or graphics, but the inclusion of moving graphics and picture displays has made screensavers entertaining to watch. These graphics and pictures are the reason most users regularly download screensavers. The growing popularity of other computer displays such as flat panel displays, which are burn-in resistant, have made screensavers decorative.

Screensavers can also be setup to provide security to the computer system. When the screensaver is currently being displayed, and the user presses a key on the keyboard or moves the mouse, a dialog box would appear, prompting the user for the password. Access to the system will not be allowed until the user enters the valid password.

A possible use of screensavers that is being considered is using it for advertising purposes. Many companies have started to develop screensavers that contain ads for different target audiences. These types of screensavers will also have the capability to track the response of consumers on the shown advertisement.

It is important to note however that screensavers are not used for power management. In fact, screensavers prevent monitors from entering the idle state, thus, wasting more energy. Also, using screensavers on LCD displays reduces the lifetime of the display. The reason being is that LCDs uses fluorescent backlight which ages faster when always lit than when it is completely turned off. Blacking the screen, as what some screensavers do, could also damage LCD screens.