Korean companies help workers play on the sly

SEOUL - A South Korean software company has found a way to help people appear to be hard at work while they are actually playing computer games at their desks.

Software maker CCR has developed a system by which workers can play card games with icons planted at the bottom of the screen. The icons look like short-cut keys on a tool bar.

While a worker is busy playing by clicking what appear to be normal icons, all a passing boss can see on the screen is pressing work.

"I usually enjoy playing the game with my co-workers during lunch time but I can sneak in some playing during my working hours as well," said an office worker who asked not to be identified.

CCR said it has applied for a patent for the technology and it wants to develop more games that will allow workers to play on the sly. The company is looking to take its technology overseas.

Another South Korean software maker, Nexon, has developed a system for an on-line racing game called "Kart Rider" that allows workers to shrink the window on which they are playing a game to a barely noticeable size with the push of a button.

"With a push of the F11 key, users can control the size of the screens in a flash," said Koo Gi-hyang, a Nexon official.

South Korea is one of the most Internet-savvy nations in the world.

- REUTERS