The document discusses real-time image processing and different approaches for acquiring and processing images and video in real-time. It compares libraries and frameworks like OpenCV, DirectShow, and Vision SDK. OpenCV is highlighted as it provides both high-level and low-level functions for tasks like image acquisition, processing, and display and has become popular for real-time applications due its open source nature and support. Sample code in OpenCV is also provided to demonstrate a basic real-time video processing application.