Users are discussing a proposed feature to display users replying to a topic next to the scrubber bar. darkpixlz suggests this would be helpful for browsing and provides a mockup. However, others have concerns: Jagster thinks it may be too crowded on larger screens, and ondrej is worried about inconsistency between desktop and mobile. Stephen argues that the current placement is ideal, as seeing avatars next to the scrubber could be distracting. darkpixlz counters that this feature could be beneficial for some users, such as those following feedback threads, and proposes making it a site setting or user preference option.
Right now there’s quite a bit of whitespace next to the scrubber bar.
I think a good addition to it would be to have the people replying, or reading a topic right there in more of a compact view.
I made this quick mockup right here:
This would be helpful as the only place to see who’s replying is the bottom.
If you’re against the feature let me know and I can try to defend it, I just think it would be helpful when browsing.
Mobiles can be problematic. Otherwise on bigger screens it is matter of taste — for me it would make that side… too crowded.
Maybe this could be a desktop only thing?
I don’t mind the idea of filling in the space. I think I’d be confused looking at two different areas to see who is typing depending whether I’m on desktop or mobile.
Do we need to know who is responding to a topic before we’ve finished reading it?
I think the current placement is ideal - while I’m catching up on posts I don’t need to see avatars appearing next to the scrubber. If I’m not up to date on the conversation why do I need to know about posts which have yet to appear?
If anything avatars popping up and going away while the topic continues below would probably serve as a distraction.
Personally, I think it would help me with knowing the incoming replies. I could be reading, for example a feedback thread that I made and I would like personally to have the incoming replies known at all times.
It could be a site setting or option in your user preferences because I agree that it’s not for everybody, but some people could benefit from it.
