We describe a system for performing interactive MRI in real time. Using a TR/TE 7.1/ 3.5 ms sequence, the operator may alter a scan parameter and observe the effects of the alteration on the image within a few hundred milliseconds. With this system, we can interactively control the oblique scan slice orientation and, using inversion pulses, the image Contrast. © 1990 Academic Press, Inc. Copyright © 1990 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company