Collecting 31 papers presented at the Fourth International Workshop on Object-oriented Real-time Dependable Systems (OORTDS) held in Santa Barbara, CA, in January 1999, volume coverage real-time CORBA (a computing environment for distributed applications and systems), real-time Java, real-time performance and applications, testing, failure detection and availability of object-based systems, quality of service, real-time scheduling and algorithms, and object-oriented robotics, automation, and mobile systems. The panel discussion is on OORTDS challenges and opportunities from industry viewpoints, and the closing workshop addresses research directions. Includes an author index only. Sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on Distributed Processing. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)