eSheep, Sheepy or Screen Mate Poe is a 16-bit

16-bit

-16-bit architecture:The HP BPC, introduced in 1975, was the world's first 16-bit microprocessor. Prominent 16-bit processors include the PDP-11, Intel 8086, Intel 80286 and the WDC 65C816. The Intel 8088 was program-compatible with the Intel 8086, and was 16-bit in that its registers were 16...

 Windows

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 program by Fuji Television

Fuji Television

is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....

, in which a sheep runs around on the users desktop

Desktop environment

In graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...

, interacting with open windows

Window (computing)

In computing, a window is a visual area containing some kind of user interface. It usually has a rectangular shape that can overlap with the area of other windows...

 as well as with randomly generated objects, for instance flower

Flower

A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...

s. If several copies are running at the same time, they will interact with each other. It can also alert the user about upcoming appointments. It is also partly comparable in function with later screensaver

Screensaver

A screensaver is a type of computer program initially designed to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the computer is not in use...

s, although the user can continue working while the program is running. Up to nine instances of the program can be run simultaneously.

The program is based on the Stray Sheep franchise

Franchising

Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....

 by Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

 writer Tatsutoshi Nomura. The program originally (1996) distributed for 3,200 yen

Japanese yen

The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...

 as a retail version, or 2,560 if bought by conventional mail

Mail

Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...

. Computer students quickly translated the software to English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 and distributed that version over the internet for free illegally. As a reaction Engrish

Engrish

refers to unusual forms of English language usage by native speakers of some East Asian languages. The term itself relates to Japanese speakers' tendency to inadvertently substitute the English phonemes "R" and "L" for one another, because the Japanese language has one alveolar consonant in place...

 banners appeared on the official website where the sheep informed people "I am not a free". In 2000 the distributor stopped selling their software through the mail. Similar programs, known as "screenmates", featuring other characters appeared as well during the same time.

Actions

Other than running around the computer screen, the eSheep can do an abundance of other things such as:

• Sitting.
• Sleeping.
• Jumping.
• Sneezing.
• Handstands.
• Eating spontaneously generated daisies.
• Falling from the top of the screen.
• Being abducted by aliens.
• Crashing like a burning comet into a bath.
• Meeting a black sheep.

To access the program options (Sounds, sleep on/off, etc.) or to remove the application, double click on the sheep.

To access the debug mode and all the different actions, perform ctrl+shift+double click on the sheep.

External links

• Official Stray Sheep website (Japanese)
• Download the English language help file also general information/reference
• Background information, videos of the TV show and program download link
• Albino Blacksheep reference
• Download Scmpoo 1.0 at Brothersoft
• sheep น้องแกะน้อยเดินเล่นที่หน้าจอ(Thai language website about eSheep)