Comment by andsoitis
1 hour ago
> That's up to personal preference.
Stated preference perhaps, but unlikely revealed preference.
Depends on context, but for a computer on which you're doing work, moving wallpaper is usually a net negative for usability while you're actively working, though the magnitude depends heavily on the animation.
The problem is primarily peripheral attention. Motions is a strong pre-attentive visual signal: your visual system detects it without you deliberately deciding to look at it. One a laptop where you're close to the display and spending long periods concentrating on text, code, documents, etc., any visible animated region around or through windows can create low-level competition for attention.
A good compromise is wallpaper motion during transitions or stillness during work.
Broader UI principle: motion should explain change, not create change to be noticed.
> on which you're doing work, moving wallpaper is usually a net negative for usability while you're actively working
No, you don't know me, or other people.
I want every fucking thing moving at all fucking times. It's okay.
Btw for other people who love some motion in their occupation:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1516350/Textreme_2/
https://ash-k.itch.io/textreme-2
that looks like fun!