Various computer graphical user interfaces may change the pointer to an hourglass during a period when the program is in the middle of a task, and may not accept user input. During that period other programs, for example in different windows, may work normally.
Computer graphical user interfaces (GUIs) might show an hourglass cursor when a program is performing a lengthy operation and cannot accept input from the user.  Other programs will function normally in other windows during this time.