Who dreamed up the concept of the screen saver, anyway? Most of us don’t know that those barking puppies that used to pop up onscreen when our computers were at rest were there for a very specific reason. Some savvy Macintosh aficionados may know that screensavers were invented to serve a technical function. When computers came with monochrome CRT monitors, screensavers prevented phosphor burn-in. Those swimming fish, flying toasters and tail-wagging puppies, were onscreen for more than just entertainment.

But in the years since the invention of the personal computer, Macintosh has changed the computer industry. All computers now have LCD computer monitors instead of CRT monitors. Screensavers because Phosphor burn-in isn’t a concern, so screensavers serve mostly an entertainment function. If your Macintosh is at the office, your screen saver can serve a privacy function, as well, keeping your screen from the eyes of coworkers.

But screen savers can serve a wide variety of functions, including expressing our individuality and taste with our favorite photos and snazzy graphics. Macintosh iCal and Address Book users might want to have a screensaver that’s more functional. The good news is that now they can get one, because PocketMac has invented an application called PocketMac iCalScreenSaver. It projects all of your iCal appointments as your screen saver when your computer’s resting. It can also project your iCal calendar in a daily format, or a weekly format, until your entire month’s schedule has been cycled onscreen. You can also have your screensaver display your Address Book contacts.

You can customize your PocketMac iCalScreenSaver with four different color schemes: sunset, blue-grey, tangerine and green. You can also decide which of your calendars you want to display on your iCal screen saver. Your business appointments can show up at your office and your personal appointments can appear at home, if that’s what you want. You can also exclude certain personal appointments from your iCal screensaver.

It takes about five minutes to install PocketMac iCalScreenSaver on your Macintosh.