Eyes Relax
Posted on May 19th, 2008 in Uncategorized
What is it?
It’s an utility that helps avoiding eyes-related problems when working at a computer for several hours. Concentrating your eyesight on a computer screen can cause an eye strain. You can prevent this by taking regular breaks during the work and look at distant objects.
Eyes Relax is a tool that reminds you about taking those breaks. It a very flexible utility, which allows you to specify two independent (short and long) work periods, the length of the breaks, break types, notification sounds and many other settings.
Eyes Relax has also the parenting features. It can enter the password-protected Parent Mode in which the user is forced to take breaks (during the break the computer is locked). This is very useful since children often forget about the real world and play video games much too long.
Download
The latest version of Eyes Relax is 0.54. Here is the download link (installer size: 1.19 MB).
Note: Eyes Relax requires Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 to be installed.
License
I’ve been developing Eyes Relax since April 2008, constantly improving it and adding new features requested by the users. Despite the amount of work Eyes Relax is (and will remain) free for any use. However, if you find this program useful, I will appreciate any donation, which would help me to pay for the website hosting and support the future development.
Screenshot
Awards
I’m happy that people find this little tool useful. That’s what matters to me, thank you. Take care of your eyes.
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December 13, 2008
Do you work as a programmer FOR FREE ?
Why undermine the market with a free peace of software ?
Think about it and remove it from public !
December 13, 2008
I_wonder: I work as a professional programmer and I enjoy doing it. I wrote Eyes Relax because I needed such tool and I couldn’t find anything I could use at work for free. So I wrote it (it took me about an hour). Then I thought if I needed such a tool, maybe someone else needs it too.
And yes - I give it for free, cos the programming I’ve done isn’t even worth mentioning. Moreover the purpose of Eyes Relax is to help people to take care about their health and limiting the access to such a tool by demanding money is not something I’d like to do.
And I don’t believe any serious business could be undermined with a tool that one programmer can create in 1 or 2 hours and give it for free.
December 17, 2008
Great work
I would like to find out more about your software and of other more powerful software lines to eyes relax.
Keep it up!
Cybersam
December 24, 2008
I strongly agree with mech. I had the same problem with computer LCD but thanks to the free software developed by mech now my eye problem has gone.
Thanks again.
December 29, 2008
U r a great guy
January 1, 2009
merci
January 2, 2009
Thanks simply … Usefull I’ve got a similar (free also) tool but yours is simply better … and vista compatible also ;-)
My kid suggest an option for random images taken from a dedicated folder ;-)
February 4, 2009
I_Wonder, you are an ass. The guy made great app and shared it with everyone. If you suck so much that you need to kill freeware in order to make money as programer then get a second job.
February 4, 2009
Thank you for your absolutely fabulous tool… A real salvation for any IT artisan out there.
A small bug report: ER 0.43 is very sensitive to using WinXP Remote Desktop Tool - in 75% of cases it crashes (”Performed an illegal operation”) whenever we connect or abort connection to remote computer… When you are supposed to be using remotes a lot, that becomes a nuisance :).
Anyway, thanks a lot! As soon as I get out of debts, I’ll definitely donate.
February 4, 2009
Thank you, mech! It’s wonderful to see people willing to occasionally share their talent without the constant need for financial reward. Especially when it’s a program that helps people on a personal level like this one. As for I_wonder…. sad, very sad. Maybe he’s trying desperately to sell a similar product?
February 4, 2009
@ I_wonder
“Peace” should be spelt “Peice”. Maybe you should try the software so you can see whether you are using the correct word. Twat!
February 4, 2009
Super Program!!! My wife needs this. Thanks!
February 4, 2009
mech, great tool. Very helpful at my workplace. Thanks for supporting the community with a free “peace” of software.
February 4, 2009
I_wonder quit crying. There’s ton of free software out there available. Ever heard of open source? How about Gimp, Open Office, etc. And those are major applications, this is a handy widget that is aimed to help people out. Don’t hate, you’re probably writing an inferior program with identical functionality and plan on selling it for $10. Get mad at the people who are going to pirate your useless app, not at the programmers who distribute their work as a token of good will.
February 4, 2009
Thank you so much for this piece of software. Not only does it help me get away from the computer when I need to, the timer is great for when my children are on.
February 5, 2009
thank you - works great! found via lifehacker.
suggestion: optional (and selectable) sound when break is up - I find I’m constantly looking at the pop-up to find out when I should start looking at the screen again… which kind of defeats the purpose. a default zen chime would be nice.
February 5, 2009
Could you do a portable version?
Most people at work don’t have the privileges to install software :)
February 5, 2009
mech, I always admire & respect people who offer freeware.
Thanks for a great piece (I_wonder - pls note the spelling!) of s/w :)
February 5, 2009
Thanks a lot. i am suffering from eye strain.
hope this works.
February 5, 2009
Thank you for the free, healthy reminder. For anyone who works at a desk for 8 hours a day, this is an incredibly important tool. I started my job with 20/20, not its 21/20 its been less then two years. For 21 years my eyes were fine, but once I started staring at a computer for over 30 hours a week, my eyes went down hill.
So thank you!
I
February 5, 2009
I-wonder wrote, …free peace… Sounds like a “Beatles” song title!!
February 5, 2009
If you really want to make this utility useful and good for people’s health then you have to implement the following things:
1) Two break intervals: one short tunable interval (15-45 sec) every 10-15 minutes (also tunable) and one long interval every hour (~ 5minutes)
2) Break modes: a) a mere systray notification (already there) b) full screen shutting down with possibility to stop the relaxation period either by using a keyboard shortcut (tunable) OR a mouse click on a button OR without any of those possibilities (i.e. have a rest or die).
I currently have the following settings in a similar Linux/KDE utility: a 45 seconds rest every fifteen minutes and a 5 minutes rest every hour.
February 6, 2009
Very appretiate of you for this piece of software, it’s really all that i was looking for, no bulky software or anything.
I will encourage my co-workers to install it and donate just a dollar minimum for your effort.
Regards!
February 6, 2009
Feature request: Allow sound events to be specified.
1) End of break
2) Start of break
3) Break notification
February 6, 2009
Hi all!
Thanks for your comments and ideas. I’ve been very busy last month, but be sure I read carefully every comment and I will consider each of them when preparing the next version (till the end of February I hope). Best greetings.
mech
February 9, 2009
I’m looking for a tool which reminds me to blink.
I have dry eyes and when I work behind a computer I blink less.
It would be great if a slight popup (not irritating) in my screen every x seconds reminds me of blinking. Should be a tiny enhancement to your software.
February 11, 2009
Your product is very very nice and useful.
But what is the problem is that it uses 20,000 KBs of memory. It is the topmost program next to explorer using maximum memory.
Hope you would try to reduce the memory usage in upcoming versions of the program
February 15, 2009
Hi mech. First of all thank you very much for this tool. I like it a lot! I wonder if the reason why you didn’t get any donations yet is that the paypal form appears in Polish only, so it is not readable for most of us. I didn’t find a way to switch the language. I’m happy to donate but I want to understand the dialogs when entering sensitive cc information. ;)
It would be great if you could include an option to play sound-files in the upcoming version (one for the beginning and one for the end of the break and maybe a field for entering the volume-percentage or a volume slider).
The sound options could get switched on/off additionaly to a selected break time action or as a replacement.
Examples:
profile1: break time action=”show image” AND play sound=ON
profile2: break time action=”show image” AND play sound=OFF
profile3: “play sound” only (no baloon, blank screen or image)
All the best and keep up the good work!
Axel
February 15, 2009
Axel,
Thank you for you comment. I’ve recreated the donate button and I hope it will be international this time. I’ve noticed that the previous was in Polish, but I thought paypal detects the country based on IP/browser settings.
I’ve just released a new version of Eyes Relax (0.44) which is a bugfix version (fixed stability and memory issues). The next version will have:
- the microbreaks
- customizable sounds
- new notification and break types
greetings,
mech
February 16, 2009
Hi mech,
that’s great! When about do you plan to release the next version?
greetings,
Axel
February 16, 2009
Hi mech, hi all,
just for your information and everybody out there considering a donation - the paypal donation page is now displaying in English and it’s quick and easy to use. :) ;)
Have a good day and all the best!
Axel
February 18, 2009
And yes the memory problem is solved in the next version and the program just occupies 2 or 3 MBs in the memory.
The update process occurred so smooth that too without a browser. It’s really great.
I Wish success in all your projects.
February 22, 2009
Please add more function to expand program feature.
- add more relax (dont fix only one.)
- if time is expri then the child dont stop. how parent send the command to computer to disable mouse/keyboard or lock computer or shutdown.
March 5, 2009
Hi,
This is a great utility. Its a permanent part of my computer now.
But, there is one problem. It crashes whenever my laptop is resumed from hibernate state. Please try to add support for hibernate.
Thanks / Ajay
(note from mech: upgrading EyesRelax to version 0.44 resolved the problem)
March 13, 2009
thanks a lot! for such freaky people like me,- that’s exactly what I need :)
March 23, 2009
Mech…..you deserve a Noble price for the world health….how many children could avoid far/near sighted eyes….using your program…..for free….Anyway….wonder in newer version we can upload a list of MP3 songs that play in random a song for each break duration time. (my daughter like to sing along and she can improve her English by singing)….i can improve my English as well……..(it is great if the other running program sound temporary stopped)….also after the song finish, will be a good sign to tell break time is over , because kids sometimes wait in front of monitor due to lack of sound.
March 23, 2009
oh yap….Mech….some other thing i should tell you of why I choose your program from other free eyes protection software is that because
1. you allowed full 1024×768 jpeg resolution
2. Reminder before break
3. The simplicity of the program
well…..with future ability to play MP3 files randomly 1 per each break & temporary stop of other running program sound …this will be a SIMPLY but PERFECT eyes protection software
March 24, 2009
Also Mech….you have a very good website design idea…it is clean but informative & to the point ….it is a website design that makes people willing to stay & browse…..amazing….I read all of the response….I never do this on other website…. same as your eyes relax software ……it is just the one what I ( I hope many people) thinking of ….
March 27, 2009
Dear Mech…..
Can you add Date to each comment to tell people when each comment was posted ? Thanks
March 27, 2009
I vote for sound request specificating time!
Even without that, a wonderful lifesaving .. i mean.. eye-saving software.
March 27, 2009
Hi all,
Freelanceandy: thank you for your comment. I’ve added the comment date. I’m also going to improve the wordpress skin, just have to find some time to do it.
Eyes Relax news: the new version is almost ready, I believe I will release it next week. Two major changes:
- two types of breaks - short and long, f.e. 1 minute break every 15 minutes and 5 minutes break every hour
- customizable notification sounds (incoming break, break start, break end)
Greetz,
mech
March 28, 2009
I am using it for more than a month now, and I really feel better with my eyes.
Please, will you add the feature of reducing the break time to seconds. I cannot wait for one minute every 10 minutes. I only want 30 seconds.
Please try to bring it in the next version.
Thanks in advance.
March 29, 2009
Hi
Nice utility. Parent mode is very useful but why Allow to cancel a break is still active in this mode? Children can easly cancel a break and all work is for nothing.
Everytime when the programm is starting the main window is appearing, can you add a checkbox to cancel it?
March 29, 2009
ZeT,
1. User can cancel a break in Parent Mode only after providing the password, so keep the password secure :)
2. Eyes Relax can start in “hidden” mode - the are two ways to do it:
a) you can specify the “/silent” command line parameter when starting Eyes Relax. A shortcut which does this is created by the installer in the Programs/Startup menu. So you simply have to copy Eyes Relax shortcut from the Startup menu to the desktop/quickstart toolbar.
b) in the Eyes Relax shortcut properties you can specify in the program should start in Normal/Minimized/Maximized mode. Select the “Minimized” mode - that should do the trick.
April 2, 2009
“Peace should be spelt peice” Now THAT’s funny!
April 4, 2009
Really it is mind blowing tool. Hats off. If you need any kind of help in developing such tools for free, please feel free to ask me. I can finance for your time.
April 7, 2009
Thanks for your Download
April 8, 2009
Dear Mech,
I just downloaded your 0.52 version……I really want to say to all of you….I have search for a hundred of similar softwares …..Eyes relax 0.52’s simplicity, panel design & functions worth more than those others that need to pay…..I just now have the last request …..would you pls design a path for sound to a folder with multi MP3 files for in line / random plays for every start of break…….
April 9, 2009
Hi mech,
I have no problems with Eyes relax except one.
I would sometimes have some work other than in computer
I used to get out of my room, and when I return and start doing my work in computer. Within 10 or 20 seconds eyes relax gives a break. This annoys me very much.
My idea is to integrate eyes relax with screensaver, so that when the screen saver is running, Eyes relax does not gives a break. And when the screen saver exits, eyes relax should reset its timer
April 12, 2009
I just downloaded V0.52. Thanks a lot for implementing the sounds!!! Great tool! Thanks a lot.
April 12, 2009
Hi mech,
I like Jaikrishna’s idea to reset the timer on exiting the screensaver a lot! It should be easy to implement following the ideas presented here: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/ScreenSaverControl.aspx?display=Print
Thanks for considering.
Have a great day!
April 14, 2009
Jaikrishna,
I think your idea is really great, thank you for sharing it. Shame on me I didn’t think about it myself :) I will definitely implement this feature in the next release.
Greetings,
mech
April 14, 2009
Hi mech,
could you also please consider adding a field for entering the volume-percentage or a volume slider in the next version? I would like to specifically turn down the volume for the EyesRelax sounds so I hear them less dominant while having my other sounds (like Skype ring tones, etc.) in a higher/normal volume.
Thanks a lot!
April 14, 2009
Hi Mech
Thanks a lot for this tool, my daughter appreciate it less but never mind !
could you tell me if anybody else faced an issue on installing the last version ? I’ve restored twice the system because my Word, Outlook e-mails and so on are lost after the installation.
by the way, I also think that taking into consideration screensaver would be great.
Thanks for comments.
Greetings
April 14, 2009
Hi Zhorse,
I put a lot of effort in testing new versions before releasing them. Of course there were some minor bugs in the past, but they affected only the way Eyes Relax behaved (some memory usage and stability issues). ER does not access system files. It doesn’t use the Windows registry neither, so it shouldn’t be the cause of your problems. The msi installer does only some standard things (directories creation and Start menu modification).
But if anyone else experienced similar (or any other) problems - PLEASE send me a note, I’ll definitely fix them.
Greetings,
mech
April 16, 2009
Hi mech,
when implementing the check for the screensaver, could you also please at the same time check if the monitor is on?
Thanks and greetings!
April 27, 2009
Hi mech,
thanks a lot for including the sound volume slider in the new version (0.53).
That’s perfect!
Best, Axel
April 28, 2009
Dear Mech,
I have make donation to you under name of Gunadi Soehandy on 11 April 09…Did you received the fund ? Thanks for upgrating to 0.53…..You know I uninstall 0.52 & delete all C:\program files\eyes relax……but after 0.53 is installed….the old setting, the break time setting, the sound path…etc everything is still there …….I don’t even have to start all over again…..FANTASTIC….HOW YOU DO THAT ?
May 2, 2009
HI mech,
Thanks for implementing the screensaver feature.
I thought some children could dodge eyes relax by selecting preview in display options and the parent mode would become useless. But that, actually could not dodge Eyes relax.
Great, Thank you once again.
May 12, 2009
Hi. Just an advice: the program crashes if the break time starts during the stand by. It tells that there’s an error not catched.
May 13, 2009
just_me,
Could you please give me some tips how to reproduce this error (Eyes Relax version, OS version). I entered the standby several times, but every time I leave standby mode ER still works.
May 13, 2009
Thanks for this great tool! realy nice app
greeting from Lithuania :)
May 14, 2009
Dear Mech,
Recently you just delivered V0.53…..today I discovered new version 0.54…..would you pls tell us what kind of improvement made ? Thanks a lot……still waiting for play button for winamp
May 19, 2009
Mech,
Thanks a lot for developing such a useful tool. Its really helping me to protect my eyes. I have also read some of your other articles, you are really great.
Keep up the good working going! :)
May 25, 2009
Hello,
I’ve been searching for a similar program and have tried at least 5 of them before concluding to this which one really is nearly perfect! I actually use it to take breaks during study so I can keep my focus at a peak (there is a relative study on this.)
My thoughts :
1)I would love this on Mac OS too (I know that I ask too much but hope dies last :D )
2)Based on my comments above , I think that there are very few (or none - I couldn’t find any) programs designed for study and in particular to assist people to take regular breaks to keep their mind power and focus at an optimum level. I believe you can make a very, very similar program and change only the description and title (and of course the overlay a bit). I know that it sounds pointless but it would enable people that look for such a program to finally find it ;) I am pretty sure that you will receive some massive thank you emails , comments , donations (etc) there too.
3)I see how some people hurried on to bash I_Wonder on his suggestion. I don’t think there are people who LIKE TO PAY and I dont think he is an exception either, I personally believe that he really appreciated the program so your reactions were kind of exaggerated. I utterly applaud mech’s choice to go public on this but lets be honest : with some proper polishing (graphics etc) this program could sell like hot bread. And this just goes once again to congratulate mech on his excellent job.
Sorry for my long feedback and
P.S. If you are thinking about the “study break program” thing I can provide you with as much details and research as you want !
May 27, 2009
Hi all. First of all, thanks to mech for this fantastic program!!.
I have discover the bug that says just_me:
Configure “Double click Action” as “Take a Break”.
When the yellow popup shows, if you double click on icon to “Take a break now”, another lleyow popup shows, and freeze when goes to zero.
Greeting from Spain.
June 5, 2009
as a programmer myself, I think your reply to I_wonder was just brilliant. the whole community thanks you !
June 15, 2009
After using this app for almost two weeks, I have two feature requests ! :)
1 - “Start working feature” - reset the interval counting (to zero), so the next interval comes at the correct time. Right now it is looping the intervals whether I’m at the computer or not.
2 - “Screen saver Inactivity” - If the screen saver comes on, it means I am not working! So it should stop running, and when I came back and the screensaver is dismissed, it should make an automatic “Start working” action, resetting the timer for me.
what do you think ?
Greetings!
June 17, 2009
Hi,
Thanks for this great tool. It’s just brilliant !
I’m also using it to control the time that my child waste on computer. So, I’ve activated parental control. But… he discovered a way to get out eyes relax. Just a few seconds before eyes relax take action, he restarts his computer to restart time counter.
So, my suggestion is: if parental control is enable, there should be an option to avoid that situation (maybe saving the last time it takes action, with parental control enabled).
Regards and keep this excellent work!