Zeitgesteuerte

Zeitgesteuerte is a German term used to denote processes, mechanisms, or works that operate according to a predefined time schedule. Derived from Zeit ("time") and gesteuerte ("controlled"), it is commonly employed across technical, engineering, and artistic discourse to emphasize temporal structure.

In technology and automation, zeitgesteuerte Systeme are those whose actions are triggered by a clock, timer, or periodic signal rather than by event-driven input alone. Typical implementations use real-time clocks, timers, or schedulers to initiate state changes, data sampling, or output control at precise moments. The concept is often contrasted with event-driven or sensor-driven control, where actions occur in response to external triggers.

In the arts and media, zeitgesteuerte describes works in which perception, light, sound, and motion unfold according to a programmed schedule. Installations, kinetic sculptures, and audiovisual performances frequently rely on time-based sequencing to achieve rhythm, pacing, and synchronization with music or environmental cues.

Origin and usage: The term is formed from Zeit and gesteuerte; the related adjective is zeitgesteuert. While widely understood in German-speaking technical and cultural contexts, its exact meaning can vary by domain, ranging from mechanical timing to artistic timing systems.

See also: Zeitgeist; Zeitsteuerung.