Comparing Scalable Vector Graphics with Flash as Media for the Delivery of Interactive Vector Graphics on the Internet.

Flash, a proprietary format, is the most widely used vector graphics format on the Internet (Probets et al, 2001). Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is an XML namespace and a W3C recommended open standard for describing two-dimensional vector graphics. The current specification (SVG 1.1) released in January 2003 supports interactivity, dynamic content and mobile devices. SVG is data driven, that is it consists of code (in plain text) to be rendered by an application, in the same way as HTML is rendered by a browser, this means that sophisticated vector graphics can be displayed using less bandwidth than equivalent raster based formats (JPEG, PNG or GIF), making it attractive for Internet use. The project undertook a literature review of vector graphics on the Internet, evaluated SVG technology and reviewed current trends in the use of SVG. A primary finding is the very limited extent that SVG is used for developing interactive games. Near identical interactive multimedia games were developed in both formats, the SV