4 ms·

Buy a mouse wiggler, problem solved.

commandlinefan 6y ago
Reminds me of a story I read - some company had a batch job that ran for hours and for some reason if the computer went to screen saver, the batch job crashed and had to be restarted. Rather than actually find the root of the problem (of course), or disable screensaver (not allowed per security policy), they just assigned somebody to move the mouse every few minutes to keep the screensaver from activating. So one day, the guy brings in a vibrating baby bouncer, puts the mouse in the baby bouncer, and kicks back for the rest of the day.
- gruez 6y ago
  Both of the solution seems dumb to me. Can't you play a 24 hour video? AFAIK most media players prevent the computer from going to sleep. Or even better write a program that does it for you: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34836406/how-to-prevent-windows-from-going-to-sleep-when-my-c-application-is-running https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34836406/how-to-prevent-...
  - skavi 6y ago
    The entire situation is dumb.
chronicsunshine 6y ago
I don't think it's that simple. From my experience, if you are in certain non-Microsoft applications and the mouse is moving it will still set you as Away and won't set your status to Available until you click into an application it recognizes.
- ardy42 6y ago
  > I don't think it's that simple. From my experience, if you are in certain non-Microsoft applications and the mouse is moving it will still set you as Away and won't set your status to Available until you click into an application it recognizes. Is it just ignoring mouse movement, or actually monitoring interaction with the app it recognizes? This mouse jiggler is programmable, and lets you insert keypresses and stuff into the script: https://www.amazon.com/WiebeTech-Programmable-Mouse-Jiggler-MJ-3/dp/B00MTZY7Y4 https://www.amazon.com/WiebeTech-Programmable-Mouse-Jiggler-...
  - DoingIsLearning 6y ago
    I'm no netsec expert but this type of programable usb devices sounds like a security risk specially on a company machine with access to an internal network.
    - ardy42 6y ago
      IMHO, it's not any more of a security risk than a keyboard and mouse, which is literally what it is.
mouzogu 6y ago
I've found having a youtube video, like 10 hours of black-screen open prevents my laptop from logging out. Not sure if that applies here though.
reaperducer 6y ago
Many (most?) companies that care to track your productivity in invasive ways will have security policies locking out USB devices. Even plugging in a charging cable at my company will get you a visit from the IT Security department.

Reminds me of a story I read - some company had a batch job that ran for hours and for some reason if the computer went to screen saver, the batch job crashed and had to be restarted. Rather than actually find the root of the problem (of course), or disable screensaver (not allowed per security policy), they just assigned somebody to move the mouse every few minutes to keep the screensaver from activating. So one day, the guy brings in a vibrating baby bouncer, puts the mouse in the baby bouncer, and kicks back for the rest of the day.

gruez 6y ago
Both of the solution seems dumb to me. Can't you play a 24 hour video? AFAIK most media players prevent the computer from going to sleep. Or even better write a program that does it for you: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34836406/how-to-prevent-windows-from-going-to-sleep-when-my-c-application-is-running https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34836406/how-to-prevent-...
- skavi 6y ago
  The entire situation is dumb.

chronicsunshine 6y ago

I don't think it's that simple. From my experience, if you are in certain non-Microsoft applications and the mouse is moving it will still set you as Away and won't set your status to Available until you click into an application it recognizes.

ardy42 6y ago
> I don't think it's that simple. From my experience, if you are in certain non-Microsoft applications and the mouse is moving it will still set you as Away and won't set your status to Available until you click into an application it recognizes. Is it just ignoring mouse movement, or actually monitoring interaction with the app it recognizes? This mouse jiggler is programmable, and lets you insert keypresses and stuff into the script: https://www.amazon.com/WiebeTech-Programmable-Mouse-Jiggler-MJ-3/dp/B00MTZY7Y4 https://www.amazon.com/WiebeTech-Programmable-Mouse-Jiggler-...
- DoingIsLearning 6y ago
  I'm no netsec expert but this type of programable usb devices sounds like a security risk specially on a company machine with access to an internal network.
  - ardy42 6y ago
    IMHO, it's not any more of a security risk than a keyboard and mouse, which is literally what it is.

mouzogu 6y ago

I've found having a youtube video, like 10 hours of black-screen open prevents my laptop from logging out. Not sure if that applies here though.

reaperducer 6y ago

Many (most?) companies that care to track your productivity in invasive ways will have security policies locking out USB devices. Even plugging in a charging cable at my company will get you a visit from the IT Security department.