Our expectations of digital experiences have dramatically shifted as the internet has evolved. We went from patiently waiting for a page to load, which was slow and tedious in the days of dial-up, to today’s instant response times. The shift means that real-time systems are no longer a luxury; they’ve become essential.
We now get frustrated when a website takes more than a few seconds to properly display, and in the time it takes to load, we expect some level of personalisation to occur. This is because real-time tech isn’t solely about rapid loading speeds. It’s about interactive, personalised, and enjoyable user experiences across all online activities, and these qualities are paving the way for the next stages of the internet’s development. They’re driving a future where platforms will offer more immersive experiences that respond to our needs and anticipate and cater to them before we lift a finger. Real-time tech will keep shaping online activities—from shopping to gaming—enhancing user experiences. Below, we’ll explore how real-time tech influences each of these activities.
What Is Real-Time Tech?
Before looking at the influences of current and developing real-time tech, let’s look at what we mean by ‘real-time tech’. In a nutshell, the term refers to systems that process and deliver information almost immediately.
Real-time technology is characterised by rapid responses, continuously receiving data, and low latency (delay in data transfer and processing). It also encompasses accuracy in data processing and synchronisation of different components—vital components for applications like air traffic control and machine operations. These characteristics allow us to instantly message friends on social media and collaborate on a Google document. It also delivers personalised ads and other content when we’re active online.
The Rise and Evolution of Real-Time Digital Experiences
Of course, real-time tech wasn’t nearly as sophisticated and interactive as it is today, but as the technology kept being refined, it offered many benefits that have led to its broad adoption. Real-time tech boosts engagement in online activities through seamless interaction between users and platforms. It improves communication between individuals and businesses, streamlining workplace collaboration and workflows and improving customer service.
As these beneficial qualities are more widely used, it’s created more demand and expectations from all users. Not meeting these expectations leads to frustration, negatively impacting the user experience. Naturally, this has led to increased efforts by developers, businesses, and organisations to deliver on these expectations. This is why real-time tech will continue to move the internet forward, and its current trends offer insights into what that future will include, particularly in these key areas: instant transactions, streaming, gaming and immersive tech, and the Internet of Things.
Instant Transactions
When making payments online, real-time tech enables transactions that clear in seconds, offering convenience and speed, whether transferring funds or making a purchase online. Platforms like PayPal, Stripe, and Venmo make instant transactions available for individuals and businesses, making it streamlined to make and accept payments.
Blockchain and decentralised finance (DeFi) are also growing, and their qualities extend beyond instant transactions. They also offer robust security and encryption for personal and financial data. Their capabilities are being explored by traditional banks and even in industries outside of finance for their security and seamless transfer of sensitive data. When making payments online, many security concerns exist, and real-time tech can help address security concerns promptly, mitigating their adverse effects. For instance, real-time collection and processing of data can flag potentially fraudulent activities, enabling individuals and organisations to take action.
Streaming
The internet has enabled us to consume content on-demand, whether logging into Prime Video to watch a movie or YouTube to catch up on videos from our favourite channels. The ability to do this relies on real-time tech to continuously load and share video content at a moment’s notice. It also seamlessly queues up new videos to watch next—enabling our tendency to binge-watch.
Live streaming events, like those found on Twitch and social media, similarly rely on real-time tech to instantly share video content. They also layer in other real-time capabilities, like comments and reactions, making these streams far more engaging, interactive, and appealing to take part in. Streaming content, live or not, has proven wildly successful, with millions of active accounts across platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube. This way of consuming content has become more than a trend because of its convenience and ease of use, meaning it will likely continue to be widely used as the internet evolves.
Gaming and Immersive Tech
Like on-demand content and live streams, gaming has significantly benefited from advances in real-time tech. As the technology continues to develop, it’s promising to be even more immersive. Propelled by AI, AR and VR capabilities will become more responsive to our environments and preferences, making the experiences more enthralling. Similarly, live experiences, such as playing COD in real time with friends or placing wagers at a live dealer casino, will be enhanced with 5G connectivity and faster processing speeds, further reducing latency and jitter. Sites like Casinos.com, which has a popular guide to live casinos online, highlight top-rated player experiences to bring the feel and thrill of a real casino anywhere we go. The faster these types of experiences get, the more immersive they will feel.
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) encompasses everything from smart home devices and wearable tech to manufacturing systems that build these devices and other essential products. In our daily lives, real-time tech has made smart devices far more responsive and convenient to use, just as it has enhanced streaming and gaming. With wearable tech that tracks biomarkers and health-related data, real-time tech makes smartwatches more comprehensive tools for health improvement. These tools are also playing a role in shifting our approach to healthcare, making it more adaptive, proactive, and customised to each individual. As real-time tech is becoming more sophisticated, it can effectively collect more types of health data, creating more applications and providing more insight into the state of public health.
The Future of Real-Time Technology Across Industries
While the future of the internet leveraging real-time tech is filled with exciting possibilities, it also needs to respond to growing concerns around data privacy, information access, and ethical AI use. Navigating how governments will shape protective policies and regulations isn’t black and white, making consensus difficult to achieve. Experts in the tech sector also highlight the importance of a global approach to navigating privacy and AI use since the internet exists without borders. As we rapidly move into the next evolution of the internet, it will be fascinating to see its impact on daily life—from convenience and entertainment to our rights and privacy.
By Radoslav Jokic
Updated on 5th June 2025