Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language
| Filename extension | .smil |
|---|---|
| Internet media type | application/smil+xml |
| Developed by | World Wide Web Consortium |
| Type of format | Markup language |
| Standard(s) | SMIL 1.0 (Recommendation) SMIL 2.0 Second Edition (Recommendation) SMIL 2.1 (Recommendation) SMIL 3.0 (Recommendation) |
Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL, 
/ˈsmaɪl/) is a World Wide Web Consortium recommended Extensible Markup Language (XML) markup language to describe multimedia presentations. It defines markup for timing, layout, animations, visual transitions, and media embedding, among other things. SMIL allows presenting media items such as text, images, video, audio, links to other SMIL presentations, and files from multiple web servers. SMIL markup is written in XML, and has similarities to HTML.
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[edit] Version history
As of 2008[update], the W3C Recommendation for SMIL is SMIL 3.0.
[edit] SMIL 1.0
SMIL 1.0 became a W3C Recommendation in June 1998.
[edit] SMIL 2.0
SMIL 2.0 became a W3C Recommendation in August 2001. SMIL 2.0 introduced a modular language structure that facilitated integration of SMIL semantics into other XML-based languages. Basic animation and timing modules were integrated into Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) and the SMIL modules formed a basis for Timed-Text. The modular structure made it possible to define the standard SMIL language profile and the XHTML+SMIL language profile with common syntax and standard semantics.
[edit] SMIL 2.1
SMIL 2.1 became a W3C Recommendation in December 2005. SMIL 2.1 includes a small number of extensions based on practical experience gathered using SMIL in the Multimedia Messaging System on mobile phones.
[edit] SMIL 3.0
SMIL 3.0 became a W3C Recommendation in December 2008. It was first submitted as a W3C Working draft on December 21, 2006.[1] The last draft revision was released on October 6, 2008.[2][3]
[edit] SMIL documents
A SMIL document is similar in structure to an HTML document in that they are typically divided between an optional <head> section and a required <body> section. The <head> section contains layout and metadata information. The <body> section contains the timing information, and is generally composed of combinations of three main tags - sequential ("<seq>", simple playlists), parallel ("<par>", multi-zone/multi-layer playback) and exclusive ("<excl>", event-triggered interrupts). SMIL refers to media objects by URLs, allowing them to be shared between presentations and stored on different servers for load balancing. The language can also associate different media objects with different bandwidth requirements.
For playback scheduling, SMIL supports ISO-8601 wallclock() date/time specification to define begin/end events for playlists.
[edit] File extension
SMIL files take either a .smi or .smil file extension. However, SAMI files and Macintosh self mounting images also use .smi, which creates some ambiguity at first glance. As a result, SMIL files commonly use the .smil file extension to avoid confusion.
[edit] Combination with other XML-based standards
[edit] SMIL+SVG
SMIL is one of two means by which SVG animation can be achieved (the other being JavaScript, which also offers better[citation needed] user interface capabilities than SMIL).
[edit] SMIL+RSS or other web syndication methods
While RSS and Atom are web syndication methods, with the former being more popular as a syndication method for podcasts, SMIL is potentially useful as a script or playlist that can tie sequential pieces of multimedia together and can then be syndicated through RSS or Atom.[4][5] In addition, the combination of multimedia-laden .smil files with RSS or Atom syndication would be useful for accessibility to audio-enabled podcasts by the deaf through Timed Text closed captions,[6] and can also turn multimedia into hypermedia that can be hyperlinked to other linkable audio and video multimedia.[7][8]
[edit] SMIL+VoiceXML and SMIL+MusicXML
VoiceXML can be combined with SMIL to provide a sequential reading of several pre-provided pages or slides in a voice browser, while combining SMIL with MusicXML would allow for the creation of infinitely-recombinable sequences of music sheets. Combining SMIL+VoiceXML or SMIL+MusicXML with RSS or Atom could be useful in the creation of an audible pseudo-podcast with embedded hyperlinks, while combining SMIL+SVG with VoiceXML and/or MusicXML would be useful in the creation of an automatically audio-enabled vector graphics animation with embedded hyperlinks.
[edit] SMIL+TEI
SMIL is anticipated for use within TEI documents.[9]
[edit] Status of SMIL
SMIL is being implemented on handheld and mobile devices and has also spawned[citation needed] the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) which is a video and picture equivalent of Short Message Service (SMS).
SMIL is also one of the underlying technologies used by HD DVD for advanced interactivity.[citation needed]
The field of Digital Signage is embracing SMIL as a means of controlling dynamic advertising in public areas.[10][11]
The internet video site Hulu uses SMIL as part of its media playing technology.[citation needed]
[edit] SMIL players
[edit] Software
In order to view a SMIL presentation, a client will need to have a SMIL player installed on his/her computer.
- Adobe Media Player
- Amarok
- Helix Player
- K-Multimedia Player
- QuickTime Player
- RealPlayer
- Totem
- Windows Media Player (Playlist Files)
- Zune (Playlist Files)
It would be convenient to be able to show these SMIL files natively in web browser, eliminating the requirement of a separate SMIL player or plug-in. Currently, Microsoft's Internet Explorer has limited support for SMIL features. The open-source Mozilla project is gradually incorporating SMIL and other XML-related technologies such as SVG and MathML into their browsers, but progress is slow.
[edit] Hardware
- IAdea XMP-300 media player
- SpinetiX HMP100 Hyper Media Player
- SpinetiX HMP200 Hyper Media Player
- Thomson/Grass Valley MediaEdge-3 player
- ViewSonic NMP-550 media player
- ViewSonic EP1020r wireless display+player (supporting a subset of SMIL)
- Innes DMC200 media player
- Innes DME204 media player with HD H264 encoder embedded
Media player boxes based on dedicated 1080p decoder chips such as the Sigma Designs 8634 processor are getting SMIL players embedded in them.
[edit] Embedding SMIL files into XHTML web pages
As mentioned, SMIL is not yet native to web browsers, so in order to put SMIL in a web page, one must embed it and open it in a plug-in such as Apple Quicktime or Microsoft's Windows Media Player.
[edit] Sources
- van der Heijden, Dennis (2007-05-25). "SMIL Standards and Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8". Axistive. http://www.axistive.com/smil-standards-and-microsoft-internet-explorer-6-7-and-8.html. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
[edit] See also
- Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange
- HTML+TIME
- XHTML+SMIL
- Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
- Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
- Timed Text
- Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica
- Nested Context Language (NCL)
- Semantic Web
[edit] References
- ^ W3C 1st Working draft for SMIL 3.0
- ^ last draft revision of 3.0
- ^ Bulterman, D.C.A., & Rutledge, L. (2008). SMIL 3.0. New York, NY: Springer.
- ^ Podcasting & SMIL
- ^ Analysis of RSS+Time as a playlist format
- ^ Accessible Podcasting
- ^ Podcasting: SMIL Alternative?
- ^ Podcasting Sucks
- ^ Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange, [1], [2]
- ^ DigiSigToday, Digital Signage Media Player to Support SMIL Standard, 2008
- ^ A-SMIL.ORG, SMIL for Digital Signage
[edit] External links
 |
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of |
- W3C's SMIL Web Site
- SMIL 3.0 (W3C Recommendation)
- SMIL tutorial[dead link]
- W3Schools SMIL Tutorial[dead link]
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