What is the SMIL markup language (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language)?

Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) is an extensible markup language (XML) from the World Wide Web Consortium that enables the creation of interactive audiovisual presentations. SMIL is typically used for multimedia presentations that integrate the transmission of audio and video with images, text, or any other type of medium, including animations, visual transitions, and metadata such as subtitles and subtitles. SMIL is easy to learn HTML. language, and many SMIL presentations are written using a simple text editor.

SMIL enables the author to present multimedia elements such as text, images, video, audio, links to other SMIL presentations, and files from multiple web servers, allowing convenient file sharing for uses such as editing, archiving, and transcription. SMIL markup is written in XML and has similarities to HTML. SMIL files commonly take the .smil file extension, as other programs share the .smi extension.

The authoring and rendering tools for SMIL include RealNetworks’ RealSlideshow Basic, Adobe’s GoLive6, and TransTool, an open source transcription tool. SMIL players include Adobe Media Player, QuickTime Player, RealPlayer, and Windows Media Player. SMIL presentations can be accessed through a computer’s browser with the use of a plug-in.

Some browsers, including Mozilla, are incorporating SMIL and other XML-related technologies into their browsers. SMIL can also access Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) animations. SMIL can be used on portable and mobile devices and has also spawned Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), a video and picture equivalent to Short Message Service (SMS). SMIL is also one of the underlying technologies used by HD-DVD for advanced interactivity. The Hulu Internet video site uses SMIL as part of its media playback technology.

SMIL documents are similar in structure to HTML documents in that they are typically divided into a required body section, which contains time information, and an optional header section, which contains design information and metadata. SMIL refers to multimedia objects by URL, allowing them to be shared between presentations and stored on different servers for load balancing. The language can also associate different multimedia objects with different bandwidth requirements.

SMIL can be used as a script or a playlist that joins sequential pieces of multimedia that can then be syndicated via RSS or Atom. Also, combining multimedia-laden .smil files with RSS or Atom syndication is helpful for hearing impaired to access audio-enabled podcasts via Timed Text closed captioning, and can also convert multimedia to hypermedia. which can be hyperlinked. to other linkable video and audio media files.