new feature request

When SVG is used as the src of an HTML <img> tag, all event handling is shut
off. I don't remember if this is where this is specified, but I saw it
somewhere in one of the many places that one might expect to find such a
thing being specified. 

 

Now, it does make sense that one might not want the source of one's image
tags calling scripts and the like. We expect images to be relatively benign.

 

On the other hand, SVG is used a lot as the src of HTML img's. If I had
access to Google's data I could demonstrate such with charts and figures and
animations that would light up your occipital lobes and bring water to the
dessert! One word: Wikipedia. 

 

Now, one of the things SVG is used for is teaching. It is quite useful for
that. Not just computer science, and math, but other disciplines as well:
mechanical engineering, chemistry, physics, even anthropology!

 

And for teaching, one of the most important things is interaction.

 

Well, one of the cool things about SVG (that sometimes people forget) is
SMIL. It is, in fact, one of the very coolest parts of SVG. It is a
declarative technology and as such allows non programmers to do animations.
That non programmers can create content that is shared over the internet.
one could call such novelty the fundamental principle of the WWW! 

 

It turns out that without a lick of script, one can use events to trigger
animations. One can make interactive animations without script. One can even
upload and display nonscripted SVG at social media sites (the current
bastion and breeding ground for the animated GIF). Animated GIFs, if you
haven't noticed are not very accessible. They are a blobs of bits aggregated
in the least accessible of ways. They border on bad taste if not outright
immorality! And they are intrinsically, not interactive!

 

Anyhow, if the prohibition on SVG inside the image tag listening to events
(SMIL events) were lifted then a) education prospers in all those parts of
the world that education is valued b) accessibility is increased c) uptake
of W3C standards is promoted d) the world is a better place.

 

I will call a,b,c and d the use cases.

 

Cheers

David