People are just learning why screensavers were so important

Screensavers have been around for as long as any of us can remember, but what are their actually purpose?

Over the years, some screensavers have even become memes, particularly the DVD logo one where it bounces across the screen getting closer and closer to hitting the corner.

The screensaver got so out of hand that groups of people would even sit and watch the screen for hours, cheering as the blob almost hits the corner.

It really doesn't take us much to be entertained, does it?

Well, while screensavers may provide a fun game for many, they actually serve a pretty major purpose.

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According to the Lenovo website, a screensaver serves as an important computer program designed to prevent the damage of images or text on the computer monitor from the same image being visible on screen at the same time.

As we all know, a screensaver typically appears once a device is booted up, but we have been idle for far too long.

Not everyone uses a screensaver, as it is an optional choice on the majority of devices. However, there are many benefits to using them on your more expensive items.

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The Lenovo website explains how using a screensaver can prevent 'burn-in', which is when the same image stays on a monitor too long and creates visual patterns due to 'phosphor exhaustion'.

This can apparently cause discoloration over time and decrease the overall picture of your device as well.

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Another benefit of using a screensaver is a little more lighthearted, as it certainly provides a lot of entertainment when you're not using the device.

And of course a final benefit of using one is the fact you can hide what you are surfing the internet for from either work colleagues or family members.

One major concern many have had about using screensavers over the years is whether they make technology slower.

Well, this is actually the myth according to the Lenovo website.

It explains: "If your computer is running slowly then having an active screen saver could help improve performance by reducing power usage for certain parts such as video cards or CPUs.

"This means they don't have to work as hard trying to keep everything running at full speed when nothing needs doing.

"Ultimately, they don't directly increase speeds, but they certainly won't slow them down either so it's worth looking into setting one up if yours hasn't already got one installed."