Signal-desktop: Typing indicator is distracting while reading

[teetow]

• [X] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates

---

Bug description

While reading a longer conversation, the typing indicator typically appears and disappears at intervals as the other person is completing their sentences and then pausing for a bit. Please consider adopting a behavior where the existence of the typing indicator doesn't severly affect reading the preceding messages.

Some suggestions (not mutually exclusive)

• The first time the typing indicator appears, reserve permanent space for it. This space can be eaten by the next message in the conversation once sent.

• Consider carefully how long the timeout period is for showing and hiding the typing indicator. Spontaneously it feels like it should wait longer before hiding.

• Animate the movement of the preceding messages to guide the eye. This would lessen the disruption of the typing indicator.

• Consider carefully how much vertical space the typing indicator needs. Every pixel needed is another pixel the preceding messages have to move, and the disruption becomes more severe.

Steps to reproduce

1. Partake in an active conversation with long messages
2. Read preceding messages while someone is typing sporadically
3. Try to keep your eyes on the text while it's popping up and down

Actual result:

Reading becomes taxing

Expected result:

Reading is uninhibited even when someone is typing

[martbean]

Agreed that this is distracting and annoying. There's a typing indicator next to the contact's name on the left hand side so my personal preference would be to remove the indicator in the message pane entirely (similar to Whatsapp).

If it has to be kept, in addition to the suggestions above I would suggest using a different colour (perhaps grey?) because at the moment it's the same colour as an actual message so when it's in my peripheral vision it looks like someone's posted a message.

[web-assistant]

I'm also having an issue with this. I use Signal for work related messaging and have it displayed on a separate monitor in the office and find the way the typing indicator works very distracting. Even for personal use, as I wait for a loved one to complete their messages to me, it greatly irritates me! I hope this bug gets fixed soon 👍

[EvanHahn-Signal]

As a workaround, you can disable typing indicators on your primary mobile device and the preference is respected on Desktop after a short period. I personally do this and I never see typing indicators.

[martbean]

Yeah, and that's OK but it is useful to see when someone's typing so I'd rather not disable it completely. It would be better if it was less intrusive.

[web-assistant]

I agree, that I would prefer a fix rather than disabling the indicators. I talk to a lot of people that have very slow thumbs, so it's good to see that they are actually typing as sometimes it can take them a long time to reply to me. Even just the unknown... are they replying to me or are they not replying to me.... would inevitably drive me insane!

[teetow]

As a workaround, you can disable typing indicators on your primary mobile device and the preference is respected on Desktop after a short period. I personally do this and I never see typing indicators.

Just to clarify so my initial report isn't misinterpreted: The bug report isn't about the presence of the indicator -- I rely on it for conversational rhythm. The report concerns the behavior of the typing indicator.