This screensaver I have in mind automatically mutes the sound and can be programmed to kick in and to turn off as desired.
So you turned on to watch the News. After that’s over, you will watch something else 2 hours later. You don’t want to turn the set off, but you’d like to block it out while you read, or whatever - but you don’t want to forget to tune in that program you have in mind.
OK, so you tell the set to tune into Channel 4 at ten pm, and then activate screensaver. When the program comes on, it automatically turns off the screensaver.
Something like that.
Is it already in some TVs? Or, is it a useless idea?
Well, a computer screensaver’s purpose is to keep a moving image on the screen in order to stop stagnant images from “burning in” to the screen. Because a TV always has moving pictures (aside from the occassional network logo watermark) you don’t need one from that point of view.
Also it would be just as easy to have a TV that you could set to turn off after the news (from your example) and then back on in two hours for your next programme.
Having said that, it would be kind of neat to have a nice aquarium screensaver on your TV while you read a book or potter around the house, complete with subtle sound effects comming through your surround system.
It’s my understanding that displays in general these days don’t need that. However, I gather that it can be dangerous to play games on plasma/projection/rear projection TVs because games often have static images like health bars and stuff - I never stopped to think where that left watermarks and similar TV behaviour.
I think the goals of what the OP is suggesting would be too different from the goals of a regular screensaver for them to be called the same thing; probably if they introduce the feature on TVs (or have done so already), they’ll call it something else.
For what it’s worth, on the Finding Nemo DVDs, there is an option in the menus to disable the menu text and just play the background animation on a loop. I think it would be a lot more convenient if there was just a button on your TV remote that turned on the screensaver, though.
I submitted the idea to our Cable company here in Connecticut, replete with your aquarium idea.
I doubt anything will develop. Didn’t ask for any remuneration. Let’s see what happens. If your email’s available here, I’ll let you know whatever happens.
I doubt anything will come of it as well, as most cable system here in CT have gone digital, which include such features as turning on and off at times you select. I occasionally use my tv as an additional alarm clock with this feature.
The network logos in the corners of screens do indeed cause burn-in, as does the word “Mute” if used often enough. But in general, televisions have no need whatsoever for screen saving, as the primary purpose of tv is non-interactive dynamic viewing. Interactivity is what leads to static images, causing burn-in. (Video games, computer screens, that kind of thing.)
No, the better idea is to have a television screen saver for the computer. With cable modems, this should be reasonably simple. Pick your favorite channel, and after whatever amount of inactivity you select, a full screen video window comes on playing whatever is currently on that channel. Advertisers would love it.
Strangely enough, I saw a television this week with burn-in. My dentist has a television screen in the ceiling and 99% of the time, he has it tuned in to text news, so the header and footer were burned in. This particular visit I was having a major (long) procedure done and was able to change the channel, and the effect was bizarre. Not something that would happen to a home user under normal circumstances.
Can’t say that I would really have any desire for a screensaver on my home television set(s). I would rather just have the option of a programmable on/off timer. If I just want an image, I have an aquarium / fireplace DVD.
