How does DITA support the creation of animated and interactive visual content for maritime vessels and navigation?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

DITA provides capabilities for creating animated and interactive visual content for maritime vessels and navigation, enhancing training materials and documentation with dynamic elements.

SVG Integration

One way DITA supports interactive visuals is through Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) integration. SVG is a widely supported XML-based format for creating vector graphics and animations. DITA allows for the seamless inclusion of SVG content within documentation topics. For example:


<topic id="animated_navigation" format="dita">
  <title>Animated Navigation</title>
  <body>
    <p>Learn about navigation with this interactive SVG animation:</p>
    <image href="animated_navigation.svg" alt="Interactive Navigation Animation" />
  </body>

In this DITA example, an “image” element is used to embed an SVG animation called “animated_navigation.svg” into the documentation. Users can interact with and learn from the animated content directly.

JavaScript Integration

DITA also allows for the integration of JavaScript to create interactivity in maritime visual content. JavaScript can be used to add features like interactive quizzes, dynamic charts, or responsive simulations. Here’s a simplified example:


<topic id="interactive_quiz" format="dita">
  <title>Interactive Quiz</title>
  <body>
    <p>Test your maritime knowledge with this interactive quiz:</p>
    <script type="text/javascript">
      // JavaScript code for the interactive quiz
      // ...
    </script>
  </body>

In this DITA topic, a “script” element is employed to include JavaScript code for an interactive quiz. This code can capture user input, provide feedback, and enhance the learning experience.