SVG (scalable vector graphics) is a recommendation of the W3C and used for rendering vector graphics. It was predicted that SVG is the future in the visualisation of geospatial vector data over the internet. Adobe announced that with Jannuary 2009 they will discontinue the support of their SVG Viewer plug-in (see here the official announcement). According to this Silverlight will most likely become the new Intergraph preferred standard for rendering vector graphics. (see reference entry).
Silverlight is a promising technology and the possibilities are huge. but I see some problems with this:
- Microsoft and Cross Platform
- Market share of Silverlight is currently near 0
- Strong competitor with Flash and Adobe’s Flex technology
Furthermore there is the open question: Does SVG need a repacement? SVG is nearly a standard and a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) recommendation which integrates with other W3C standards such as the DOM and XSL. I think browsers can or will nately represent SVG and there will not be a need for a plug-in.
Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.
Just a slight correction to your posting. My post (your reference post) does NOT state Intergraph will not be using SVG as a solution. It only states that Silverlight will most likely become the new Intergraph preferred standard for rendering vector graphics. I don’t know if SVG will remain a rendering option. I wouldn’t be surprised if Intergraph keeps it around. After all, you can still get active CGM output today even though SVG is the preferred output of GeoMedia WebMap 6.0. In fact, I’d be surprised if SVG output was removed from the product altogether. Until there’s a reason to do that, I would think Intergraph would keep it in the product.
Thank you for your hint. I’ve correted my post according your comment.
there is still SVG work going on in Japan.
have you seen http://blog.svg-map.com
they have a light weight viewer plugin that is much faster than the Adobe plugin. it renders SVG-Tiny data. main design goals were mapping data, fast and light-weight design for mobile handsets. using a simple structure, the plugin can render tiles very quickly without wms overhead.
you may want to have a look.
I wonder why you have a problem with the following?
* Microsoft and Cross Platform
Why is Microsoft a problem? I simply don’t get that. Cross platform? It runs on Windows and Mac, and Novell is finishing off their implementation for Linux in cooperation with Microsoft.
* Market share of Silverlight is currently near 0
Silverlight currently gets 1.5 millions installs per day! And when Silverlight 2.0 comes out, I’ll bet you will see more and more developers pushing it out.
* Strong competitor with Flash and Adobe’s Flex technology
Again, I think the developers will do their job, since it is soooo much easier to work with.
@Morten. This points should be only for consideration. I think the Silverlight technology is not bad and I’m also not saying that their will be no success for Silverlight. The future will show what will happen.
* Microsoft and Cross Platform
You are right. But considering history, image etc. Only as a question…
* Market share of Silverlight is currently near 0
Again you are right it is increasing but compared with Flash the current makret share is low. It will increase definitively but the question is how far.
We have migrated all our InstantAtlas technology from SVG to Flash given the future of SVG looks so uncertain. We continue to support the SVG based outputs but customers are moving away from this given the currently unsupported nature of the Adobe SVG Viewer. Silverlight has so little market penetration that until Microsoft bundle it into IE I can’t see it getting close to Flash - which has more than 90 per cent penetration on PCs. My guess is that a new ver of IE with native support for Silverlight could still be several years away.