Update on the canvas element

With support for the canvas element coming in Firefox 1.5, the two major alternatives to Internet Explorer (Firefox and Safari) will be one step ahead–of IE 7, that is. Some ideas are floating around how to add support for canvas to IE, however:

So here is the challenge: Write some Javascript that detects lack of support for canvas, and support for DirectAnimation. It then replaces the <canvas …/> element with an <object …/> element which invokes DirectAnimation. The Javascript will then have some wrappers that convert the <canvas …/> Javascript function into DirectAnimation calls.

Btw, the canvas element may also prove to be a great thing for Sparklines.

Be sure to wade through this presentation.

While waiting, read the docs and look at these demos (in Safari, or Firefox DP). Oh, and here’s mine.