The publication of two new W3C Candidate Recommendation specifications for SVG represents an important milestone for the W3C Scalable Vector Graphics format. Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 Specification "defines the features and syntax for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) Version 1.1, a modularized language for describing two-dimensional vector and mixed vector/raster graphics in XML. The graphical capabilities of SVG 1.1 are the same as those of the widely implemented SVG 1.0, which has been a W3C Recommendation since 4-September-2001. What has changed is the way the language is defined. For SVG 1.0, the Document Type Definition (DTD) was a single, monolithic unit. In SVG 1.1, the DTD is divided up into smaller, more flexible functional building blocks that can be reassembled in different ways for different purposes." Mobile SVG Profiles: SVG Tiny and SVG Basic "defines two mobile profiles of SVG 1.1: SVG Tiny, aimed at multimedia capable cellphones such as the recently announced 3G units, and SVG Basic for handheld and palmtop computers. Instead of sending text messages or canned, bitmap logos, SVG Tiny makes it possible to send a colorful animated multimedia message. Instead of juggling a laptop or taking a static printout to the factory floor, construction site, hospital ward, or trading room, SVG Basic enables the mobile professional to consult up to date, interactive, informative graphics on a convenient pocket computer which is dynamically updated over a wireless network connected to the XML information hub of the enterprise." The Candidate Recommendation phase for both specifications ends 23-June-2002.

Bibliographic information:

• Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 Specification. W3C Candidate Recommendation 30-April-2002. Edited by Dean Jackson (W3C/CSIRO - for version 1.1); Jon Ferraiolo (Adobe Systems - for version 1.0); Jun Fujisawa (Canon - for modularization and DTD). Version URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/CR-SVG11-20020430/. Also available in PDF and zipped HTML. Latest version URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11// Previous version URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/WD-SVG11-20020215/.
• Mobile SVG Profiles: SVG Tiny and SVG Basic. W3C Candidate Recommendation 30-April-2002. Edited by Tolga Capin (Nokia). Version URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/CR-SVGMobile-20020430/. Latest version: http://www.w3.org/TR/SVGMobile/. Previous version: http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/WD-SVGMobile-20020215/.

From the announcement:

Mobile SVG Profiles bring Vector Graphics to Handheld Devices: "There is an explosion of interest in handheld devices and mobile phones which have color screens, improved processing power and can deliver enhanced multimedia functionality. These still fall short of the capabilities of desktop and laptop machines, but are now capable of displaying Web standard technologies such as XHTML, SMIL and SVG. W3C has used the SVG 1.1 building blocks to make two profiles or subsets of full SVG; SVG Tiny, aimed at multimedia capable cellphones such as the recently announced 3G units, and SVG Basic for handheld and palmtop computers."

SVG 1.1 Integrates with Open Technologies, XML components: "Another way that W3C and others are making use of the modular SVG 1.1 building blocks is to combine them with building blocks from other W3C technologies to produce more powerful, integrated solutions. Examples include the combination of SVG and XForms to construct graphically rich, interactive input forms, or SVG and SMIL Basic to combine vector graphics with streaming audio and video. Today, W3C also released the first Working Draft of an integrated XHTML, MathML and SVG specification as an example of such integration; it forms an excellent foundation for scientific and technical communication including text with headings, lists and tables; mathematical equations, and interactive graphs and diagrams."

From the W3C SVG Overview page:

SVG is a language for describing two-dimensional graphics in XML. SVG allows for three types of graphic objects: vector graphic shapes (e.g., paths consisting of straight lines and curves), images and text. Graphical objects can be grouped, styled, transformed and composited into previously rendered objects. Text can be in any XML namespace suitable to the appplication, which enhances searchability and accessibility of the SVG graphics. The feature set includes nested transformations, clipping paths, alpha masks, filter effects, template objects and extensibility.

SVG drawings can be dynamic and interactive. The Document Object Model (DOM) for SVG, which includes the full XML DOM, allows for straightforward and efficient vector graphics animation via scripting. A rich set of event handlers such as onmouseover and onclick can be assigned to any SVG graphical object. Because of its compatibility and leveraging of other Web standards, features like scripting can be done on SVG elements and other XML elements from different namespaces simultaneously within the same Web page.