Re: Proposed adaptive image element

HTML WG,

I wanted to check-in with you guys briefly on the status of the RICG’s proposal, and update you on a few recent developments with regards to the proposed `picture` element:

A few vendors have expressed an interest in prototyping a native implementation of the `picture` element in the near future. With so much discussion surrounding this topic I’m concerned that there’s still a great deal left open to interpretation, even with the proposal codified at http://www.w3.org/community/respimg/wiki/Picture_Element_Proposal and detailed at http://www.w3.org/community/respimg/2012/06/18/florians-compromise/

Further: the Drupal team is currently discussing the inclusion of the `picture` element in Drupal 8 core, along with the speculative polyfill we developed here at Filament Group ( http://drupal.org/node/1170478 ). I posted that I didn’t recommend the use of `picture` prior to a specification or native implementation ( http://drupal.org/node/1170478#comment-6248598 ) and that they might consider the related `div`-based script that replicates the native behavior, for the time being. It does seem that some of the decision-makers involved are still leaning towards the `picture` element itself ( https://twitter.com/attiks/statuses/225636567618818048 , for example ).

I worry that implementors and the developer community alike, having seen a clear need and use for this element as proposed, are considering implementing and using it preemptively. My fear is that either party doing so before a specification has been solidified could result in competing implementations, and broken production sites.

With the above in mind I’d love to discuss the next steps in working towards a specification, and keep our momentum up. There was mention of filing a bug to have this proposal officially entered into the WG system — is that our next course of action?  Also, any information I could relay back to the RICG and interested parties would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks!
Mat Marquis