real time

2 definitions found

real time - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  real time
      n 1: the actual time that it takes a process to occur;
           "information is updated in real time"
      2: (computer science) the time it takes for a process under
         computer control to occur

real time - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  real time
  
  
     1. [techspeak] adj. Describes an application which requires a program
     to respond to stimuli within some small upper limit of response time
     (typically milli- or microseconds). Process control at a chemical
     plant is the canonical example. Such applications often require
     special operating systems (because everything else must take a back
     seat to response time) and speed-tuned hardware.
  
     2. adv. In jargon, refers to doing something while people are
  watching
     or waiting. "I asked her how to find the calling procedure's program
     counter on the stack and she came up with an algorithm in real time."