how to use angle operator with timeout?

[Mark_Galeck]

Hello, (I am not sure if this is a Perl question, or is more a general programming question. If the latter, then I am sorry to post here, please say so and I will begone. )

Every child in kindergarten knows what this does:

while (<>) {
  process $_
}

What I want, is to get into the loop not only when a new line arrives, but also, after 1 second of waiting for it, (in which case $_ should be empty). I am thinking along the lines of fork or something, but it's going to be somewhat ugly. Is there a nice "monk" way to do this? Thank you, Mark