Conclusion

New XML document technologies provide exciting new possibilites for those wishing to prepare multimedia presentations that are available via the World Wide Web.  Unfortunately, mainstream web browsers that are available for multiple platforms, such as Netscape, do not yet support these technologies.  Internet Explorer has started to support these technologies, but in a limited and platform dependent fashion.

The X-SMILES browser developed by Telecommunications Software and Multimedia Laboratory at Helsinki University of Technology offers a platform independent solution to the need for such support.  X-SMILES is also open source, allowing for its own development and evolution by the very people that use it.