Automatic screen display brightness dimmer

I wrote an experimental script for Windows XP and Nvidia users, having fun with Python.

I'll copy/paste several lines from it to explain it:

nvautodim.pyw

Script tested using the following:

• WinXP Pro SP2
• XFX Nvidia Geforce 7600 GT
• Nvidia Forceware drivers (version 178.13)
• Python 2.5.1

This script is meant for computer addicts whose computers stay in one area. It is meant to make the user more aware of what time it is and that sleep is unfortunately a required biological process.

What it does:

This python script runs in the background, periodically updating the apparent screen brightness of your display(s) according to a daily schedule.

It works by telling the Nvidia chipset to modify its brightness and contrast settings, for the desktop and DirectX apps. It does not necessarily modify brightness/contrast for video playback overlays. Optionally, the script also modifies Windows' own gamma ramp (Note: doing this affects all displays)

Ideally, one could control the brightness and contrast through the hardware of the actual displays to make better use of a contrast ratio, but this cannot be done, and people might just be upset with their time spent with calibration anyhow.

Requirements:

Nvidia-based graphics and recent video drivers (this is actually optional if the gamma ramp is suitable enough and works) (anyone who wants this for ATI and can help is free to contribute) WinXP... not so sure about WinVista but you can test it for me :/ Python 2.5 or newer I s'pose... (use the windows installer from python.org)

Afterthought

Actually, I guess it does mess up people's display calibration. I guess one wouldn't seriously use this if working with graphics any, since it doesn't currently back up settings at all.