Web Design in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition

Chapter 27. Introduction to SMIL

SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language, pronounced “smile”) is a markup language (like HTML) for combining audio, video, text, animation, and graphics in a precise, synchronized fashion. A SMIL file instructs the client to retrieve media elements that reside on the server as standalone files. Those separate elements are then assembled and played by the SMIL player. The advantages of SMIL include the ability to:

• Integrate media elements in a time-based presentation

• Reuse media elements in multiple presentations

• Allow users to choose the media tracks they prefer, for example, based on connection speed or language preferences

• Add hyperlinks in a time-based presentation

SMIL is good for simple multimedia presentations, such as audio slideshows and videos with scrolling captions. However, it is not a substitute for the rich, high-impact interactivity offered by Flash or Shockwave.

The SMIL 1.0 recommendation, released in June of 1998, is one of the first XML-based DTDs proposed by the W3C (for an explanation of XML, see Chapter 30). As of this writing, SMIL 2.0, which greatly expands upon the functionality established in the initial specification, is on the verge of becoming a formal recommendation. The SMIL 2.0 specification is broken down into function-specific modules which can potentially be used with other XML languages. One proposed use, XHTML and SMIL, would allow time-based behaviors to be added to HTML elements without the use of a ...