How Does a Screensaver Work?
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History
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Screen Savers were originally developed to save early computer screens from a type of damage called "burn in." Early computers used cathode ray tube monitors. A beam of electrons was propelled towards a screen covered in materials called phosphors which would glow when struck by the energized particles. Cathode ray tubes are still used today, but early screens were not very good. They would gradually grow dimmer over time. Projecting the same image for a long period of time would accelerate this damage, "burning" the image into the screen. The first screen savers would just turn off the computer monitor when the user was away, which was the most efficient way to preserve it. Later screen savers used cute or funny moving images as a more creative way to preserve the screen.
Screen Saver Characteristics
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A screensaver is a type of computer program. In Windows, most screen savers have the .scr extension, and have a set of built-in variables. You may be able to change the speed of the screen saver, for example, or the number of objects it displays at once. In screen savers with text, you can generally customize the message. A screensaver may display graphics, animation or photographs. Some screensavers also make sound effects. The screensaver is activated by the computer's clock. When a certain predetermined time passes without any action by the user, the screensaver turns on.
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Purpose of a Screensaver
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Screensavers aren't really necessary for monitor safety anymore, and a black screen would be more efficient, anyway. People still use screensavers, but for a variety of other reasons. Many people find them attractive and entertaining, but they can serve more practical purposes. A passworded screensaver can increase security by preventing unauthorized users from logging on to a computer. Some screensavers also make use of the computers idle processor to perform other tasks. The Seti@Home program, for example, analyzes radio signals for signs of extraterrestrial life when the computer is idle.
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