Challenges for the World-Wide Graphics Web

Abstract

The use of computer graphics on the World Wide Web is growing. For many years the only graphics that appeared on the Web were low-resolution gif images and plug-ins such as VRML. However, in 1999 there have been a number of developments that suggest that the presence of genuine computer graphics at the heart of the Web will grow during the year. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has released a Web Profile for CGM that has commitments from a number of major players that they will implement and use. W3C has had four submissions from members for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) on the Web.

Independent of the SVG activity is the work on producing a standard API to Web-based information via the Document Object Model (DOM). This requires the definition of base functionality for interaction on the Web including interaction with computer graphics such as SVG. The question is: does the Web present new challenges or opportunities for computer graphics? That is the topic addressed in this chapter. The first section gives some indication of the changes taking place on the Web, while the second indicates the areas of interest to computer graphics.