SVG for Joe Average, easing the first step


Posted by stelt apropos on Sat Aug 13th, 2005 at 15:28:23 BST

Scalable Vector Graphics is becoming increasingly popular. Google returns more than 7 million hits on "SVG" of which the first 100 only nr.13, 31, 61, 78 and 89 are not about the graphics format. Everybody (sometimes sort of) knows HTML, SVG can be just like that. But we need action on easing the first step...

People try their first SVG with their favorite graphical editor or Notepad probably, upload it to their free web-account and then nothing happens, or they get an error. What can we do here: W3C could run a script (I have it ready) that forwards the content of any SVG file, sets the MIME-type right and instead gives a report in case of errors. Batik could add the option of trying your own URL next to the examples they provide with the webstarted Squiggle SVG-viewer they have on their site (and have some rasterizer service available as well; it's just to much of a disappointment to not be able to re-use your SVG in webpages and documents everybody can view, or properly put it on paper even). Though many people hate gimmicky stuff you can do with the newest MSN or you can download on your mobile by SMS-ing to one of the services that have these annoying advertisements on TV all the time, these things actually sell big time. Young people, often children, like these things. Though often far from real computer experts, these are the same people that actually install something if necessary and often even are the one to phone up for many neighbors, friends and family as soon as some computerproblem hits. They can spread all sorts of SVG-viewing and maybe also -editing software. We should tap into that
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