Designed in the right way they can be enchanting and amusing earning wide recognition and exposure. Already they are being used for generic brand awareness, upcoming product launch, eg movie release, subliminal teaching methods, information update, eg stocks and shares or latest news, or purely for entertainment based purposes. Those that have become the most famous are those that are coupled with advertising campaigns for high profile consumer goods. Screen-savers can be designed using a number of different technologies allowing the message they deliver to vary in complexity. Macromedia Flash produces rolling animations and a minimal level of interactivity.
Users can click on buttons and alter states within the screen-saver but only to a limited extent.
Development time is fairly short and file sizes are relatively small easing delivery of such products. They are restricted in that they cannot use volatile information. Macromedia Director allows a far greater degree of interactivity. Users can now move objects, input data and radically alter states in the screen-saver. The scope of the message delivered is greatly increased with such products as is their shelf-life.