Take care of your eyes: a review of programs that interrupt the work at the computer

Breaking away from the computer is a common problem for IT people. Finding inspiration or addictive Internet - and the clock flies by unnoticed, and then the eyes want to fall out. The result is a sitting down vision, a decrease in performance, a curve of the back and a square butt.

When one's own willpower (or attentiveness to one's well-being) is not enough, special programs come to the rescue.
Earlier, a few years ago, it wasn’t much with them and most of them were not specialized precisely for counting breaks from switching on. I tried to use both the schedulers, and alarm clocks, and everyone else, but just reminders in the corner of the screen did not work - turned off and ignored. In addition, almost all of them were gloomy. But nevertheless there was a good, even a great program Computer & Vision. It satisfies all needs - and the screen dims, and the music can turn on, and you can prohibit the cancellation of the break. Everything was good, but only the first 15 days. Then the prog began to soar the brain: for 15 more days it showed its essence every time the computer was turned on with a reminder of its breechiness, after a month of use it wasn’t chopped off, for which she was thankful, but began to reset its settings every day. It was not convenient, but nothing better could be found.
A week ago, I realized that I could not go on like this. It is better to write to yourself than to poke the settings every day (a total of five or six clicks, but there is no more patience). But why reinvent the wheel? Suddenly, someone already did something like that? And hurray, done.

Warning: all considered programs under Windows. Programs for Linux in the "From the comments" at the end of the post. If someone offers a similar program for poppy and other operating systems - the people will be grateful to you)
')

C & V.

We must pay tribute, the program provides a very broad functionality, up to a time limit on using the computer - for a child, for example: I played an hour and that's enough.

Pros:

- During the break, dims the screen and closes access to everything that I thought of poking;
- It is possible to change the exit parameters from the break - free, with a password, the inability to exit;
- Customizable alerts about the upcoming break;
- Ability to put the music during the break. however, only one, like.

Minuses:

- Shareware, after the first 15 days the brain soars.
Direct download link.
Page creator.

"Rest for the eyes"

Clumsy, simple, with almost no settings. But it makes your eyes hurt if you turn it on.
Break every 30 minutes for 5 minutes.

Pros:

- freeware
- At a break, puts his or custom picture.
- You can configure the start / not start with the power on the computer

Minuses:

- Do not adjust the break time.
- There is no option to block everything and everything - it is easy to cut down on the machine and continue working.
Direct link.
Page creator.

NEWBaRest

The program is almost similar to the previous one. In this function is added, the regulation of the time of work and break, but in return you get a picture with a creepy golden man on the whole screen.

Pros:

- freeware
- Adjustable work / break time

Minuses:

- A huge bright picture at the break. Here is a person, only big and on a yellow background:

- Easy to turn off
Direct link.
Page creator.

Ni glaz

The program does not take a break, but only reminds you to take a rest.

Pros:

- freeware
- Ability to customize the type of notification - a dialog or pop-up window, a one-time "blinking" by the monitor.
- Someone may be comfortable with its unobtrusiveness.

Minuses:

- Just a reminder off on the machine, without interruption.
Direct link.
Page creator.

Eyes Relax

The best program I’ve got is almost fully consistent with the functionality of C & V.

Pros:

- freeware
- You can customize the type of break - notification, black screen, one picture, slideshow;
- It is possible to change the exit parameters from the break - free, with a password, the inability to exit;
- Customizable alerts about the upcoming break;
- Ability to put music during the break. True, only one melody (and it will be played once during the break);
- Nice interface.

Minuses:

- When setting up sometimes freezes.
Direct link.
Page creator.

Vision is a hard-to-repair thing, so if you were going to do something to ease the load on them, but were too lazy to search, it's time to act - all the programs are at your service.

From the comments.

EyeLoveU thanks justhack
There is a mode “for children” - a big picture in the center of the screen. There is an installation of breaks for a certain time. The picture does not close the entire screen.

Workrave thanks dmgorsky There is an installer for Linux.
Excellent program with ample opportunities and fun (and, of course, useful) exercises during the break.


Time Out thanks nini . For poppies.

RSIBreak - For KDE. thanks monolith

Typing Monitor in Gnome . " For a long time I used the built-in feature in GNOME. For some reason, it can be found in the keyboard setting.
It sets the time of work, break, the ability to postpone for 3 minutes. Locks the screen and in games Pts is not convenient :)
It also looks if there was no activity for the time equal to the break time, but it cancels the work timer itself. "thanks glorybox and sicness
+ picture

Eye Defender. thank you kurokikaze
Quite a convenient and concise program with the ability to include a break for exercises for the eyes - a cross in the corners of the monitor, a dot moving in a circle, etc. (“type” because the screen area is too narrow for them to do right)

AntiRSI For poppies.
“You can set up a short short break in 10–20 minutes and a big time in an hour. The disadvantage is a large cancel button, which is pressed on the machine „
thanks evgenioni

Eyes Relaxing and Focusing program that launches exercises for the eyes during a break. My brain is being carried out a little, but my eyes seem to be really exercising. thank you Dima_T

EyeLeo A simple and cute program. thanks to the developer juster