Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language

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)

SMIL (pronounced /ˈsmaɪl/ "smile"), the Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language, is a W3C recommended XML markup language for describing multimedia presentations. It defines markup for timing, layout, animations, visual transitions, and media embedding, among other things. SMIL allows the presentation of media items such as text, images, video, and audio, as well as links to other SMIL presentations, and files from multiple web servers. SMIL markup is written in XML, and has similarities to HTML.

Version history

As of 2008^[update] the current W3C Recommendation for SMIL is SMIL 3.0

SMIL 1.0

SMIL 1.0 became a W3C Recommendation in June 1998.

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.

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.

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]

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.

File extension

SMIL files take either a .smi or .smil file extension. However, SAMI files also use .smi, which creates some ambiguity at first glance. As a result, SMIL files commonly use the .smil file extension to avoid confusion.

Combination with other XML-based standards

SMIL+SVG

Main article: SVG animation

SMIL is one of two means by which SVG animation can be achieved (the other being JavaScript, which also offers better user interface capabilities than SMIL).

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].

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.

SMIL+TEI

SMIL is anticipated for use within TEI documents^[9].

Status of SMIL

SMIL is being implemented on handheld and mobile devices and has also spawned the subset known as Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) which is a video and picture equivalent of Short Message Service (SMS).^{[citation needed]}

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]}

SMIL players

Software

In order to view a SMIL presentation, a client will need to have a SMIL player installed on his/her computer. Currently, Apple's Quicktime player, Windows Media Player (WMP) and RealNetworks RealPlayer are among the most popular media players.

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. It is possible they are waiting for these XML-based languages to mature.

Hardware

IAdea XMP-300 media player
ViewSonic NMP-550 media player
Thomson/Grass Valley MediaEdge-3 player

Media player boxes based on dedicated 1080p decoder chips such as the Sigma Designs 8634 processor are getting SMIL players embedded in them.

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.

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.

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

External links

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cs:Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language de:Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language es:SMIL fr:Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language ko:SMIL hi:स्माइल he:Smil nl:SMIL ja:Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language pl:SMIL ru:SMIL fi:SMIL sv:Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language zh:同步多媒体集成语言

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[1] W3C 1st Working draft for SMIL 3.0

[2] st draft revision of 3.0

[3] Bulterman, D.C.A., & Rutledge, L. (2008). SMIL 3.0. New York, NY: Springer.

[4] Podcasting & SMIL

[5] Analysis of RSS+Time as a playlist format

[6] Accessible Podcasting

[7] Podcasting: SMIL Alternative?

[8] Podcasting Sucks

[9] Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange, [1], [2]

[10] DigiSigToday, Digital Signage Media Player to Support SMIL Standard, 2008

[11] A-SMIL.ORG, SMIL for Digital Signage

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Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language

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