Comparing times

While time normally flows forward, it is also possible for time to flow backward. For example, if you reset a clock to an earlier time, the flow of time appears to have temporarily been reversed. If you are working with time media, you might want to reverse the flow of time to play an audio or video sequence backward. In such cases, you must take into account the direction of the time flow.

When you compare times, the results of the comparison depend on the direction that time is flowing. If time is flowing toward the compared time, the compared time is directionally greater, or in the future. If time is flowing away from the compared time, the compared time is directionally less, or in the past.

NOTE Delays unblock if at any time the delay time is directionally less than the compared time.

For example, if time is moving forward and the current time is 3, any time value greater than 3 is in the future--directionally greater than the clock's time. Any time less than or equal to 3 is in the past--directionally less than the clock's time.


If the clock changes direction and counts down so that the current time is 0, any time less than 0 is directionally greater than the clock time (in the future), and any time greater than or equal to 0 is directionally less than the clock time
(in the past).


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