Mouse Jiggler
A mouse jiggler is a motion simulator device for a computer mouse. It works by nudging the computer mouse cursor into action to prevent the computer screensaver from activating.[1][2]
Mouse jigglers are also known as mouse movers.[3] There are broadly two types of device:
Mechanical mouse jigglers are small devices onto which a user places their computer mouse. They work by using a full rotating platform or rotating disc underneath the mouse. The movement is subtle but enough to move the user's cursor on their screen. This fools the computer into thinking it's being used and prevents the sleep mode or screensaver from activating. An example of a mechanical mouse mover is the Wee Shoogle as shown in image.
Software driven mouse movers install a programme on the user's machine that also moves the mouse cursor across the screen.[5]
Typical user types and use cases
Mouse jigglers are aimed at helping the following types of user:
- People working from home who have had their computer privacy settings locked by an administrator so that the screensaver kicks in after a short period of inactivity.
- People who need to keep their computer awake and stop it from falling asleep.
- PC Gamers who need to keep their computer awake during long gaming sessions so they don’t lose game data and progress.
Online monitoring of remote workers
The demand for mouse jigglers is being driven by employers or line managers indirectly monitoring their employees who are working from home.[6] Communcation applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Skype; as well as Slack show the working status for everyone wthin a group. The online status displays work in a traffic light system to show others within the team if someone is available, away, offline, or busy. If these applications are used through a computer desktop (instead of a mobile device), and the user doesn't interact wth their mouse, after a short period the status will display as inactive. In terms of the traffic light system, the available green status will change to inactive and orange. This is the mechanism that provides indirect monitoring of employees. Should someone appear to be inactive or away for a lengthy period of time, it could indicate that the individual is not working. This online monitoring of remote employees is causing a trust issue[7] and the employees are looking for ways to overcome the monitoring. Mouse jigglers enable users to keep their screen active while undertaking other tasks. This keeps the status set to available instead of showing a user to be inactive or away.
References
- ↑ Broida, Rick. "How to keep your computer awake without touching the mouse" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-keep-your-computer-awake-without-touching-the-mouse/.
- ↑ "Gadget keeps Computer Screen awake". Detroit Free Press Newspaper: p. 2. 22 May 2007.
- ↑ Broida, Rick; hassles, PCWorld | About | Smart fixes for your PC (2010-08-23). "Keep Your Computer 'Awake' with Mouse Jiggler" (in en). https://www.pcworld.com/article/203917/Keep_Your_Computer_Awake_with_Mouse_Jiggler.html.
- ↑ "Keep Your Computer Active Sans Software with a Watch" (in en-us). https://lifehacker.com/keep-your-computer-active-sans-software-with-a-watch-5660524.
- ↑ "Get Move Mouse" (in en-us). https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/move-mouse/9nq4ql59xlbf.
- ↑ Christian, Alex (2020-08-10). "Bosses started spying on remote workers. Now they're fighting back" (in en-GB). Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/work-from-home-surveillance-software.
- ↑ "Online monitoring of remote employees risks undermining hard-earned trust" (in en). https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/online-monitoring-remote-employees-risks-undermining-trust-ken-hunter.
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