Real time data

Real time data denotes information that is delivered immediately after collection, there is no delay. Often referred to as RTD, its data that updates on its own schedule, some examples of real time data is stock quotes, manufacturing statistics, tracking products, Sat Navs, Webcams and travel times. All these ways of real time data have the same objective. It’s a way of displaying data immediately. However real time data also involves tracking and navigation.  Real time data has impacted our lives today, with the use of real time data it’s made our lives a lot easier. For example 10 years ago navigation systems were not built into cars making long journeys a great deal harder although now a vast majority of cars being made have a built in navigation system.

Real time data offers the following advantages:

• Has Excel function-like syntax.
• Puts the real-time data in a cell.
• Uses cell references as part of the formula.
• Updates in real time.
• Is extremely efficient.
• Does not drop updates; modal dialog boxes shouldn't have any effect.
• Is able to drive calculation; formulas based on cells that reference real-time data should update accordingly.
• Keeps track of the state and location of real-time data formulas so that the server doesn't have to.

An example of real time data is a webcam, a webcam is a video camera which feeds its images in real time to a computer network. Webcams are also having a huge impact on the way we live. Furthermore is becoming increasing popular, and have resulted in new ways of communicating. Video conferences are now being done via a webcam.  Webcams are useful because they can be done from anywhere to anywhere therefore can be handy if you want to communicate with somebody in a different county.

Another example of real time data is search. There are many different real-time search engines that approach search in many different ways. People think that real time is just Twitter and sure enough, some of the search engines put Twitter search front and center. Few search only Twitter, though - there are only about 3 million links shared on Twitter each day. Most real-time search companies believe that's not enough to power a full index and rely on other sources of additional links to look at, often from the click-streams of users who have downloaded their software and opted-in to exposing their online behavior anonymously. A combination of links from Twitter, other online sources and the clickstreams of users powers search engines like Wowd, OneRiot and Faroo.


Tracking is becoming more regular in modern society, tracking can involve tracking products, and many businesses involving product deliveries are using product trackers. This is designed for the customer to find out where the product is and when it will arrive. In addition there are also other forms of tracking. With modern technology plane tracking is also becoming hugely popular. People waiting for flights to land can use the plane tracker website to pinpoint exactly where the plane is.


Travel times are also an example of real time data, the data is updated immediately, and there is no delay. Travel times can be anything from buses to trains to planes. All these forms of transport are updated with travel times. Therefore the data is real time.


In some forms statistics can be real time data it can be updated an example of this is manufacturing statistics it’s constantly updated and altered. Another example is birth statistics the data is always changing therefore is continuously being updated as a result this means the data is real time.