Waiting Component

The Waiting component displays a message with an optional loading spinner. It's used for transitions, synchronization points, or any situation where participants need to wait.

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Key Features

• Customizable waiting message
• Optional loading spinner
• HTML formatting support
• Customizable appearance
• Clean, non-interactive display

When to Use

Use the Waiting component when you need to:

• Create a pause between experiment states
• Wait for other participants to catch up
• Display a processing or loading message
• Create synchronization points in multi-participant experiments
• Provide a transition between sections

Configuration

Basic Settings

Setting	Description	Default
Message	Text to display while waiting	"Please wait..."
Show Spinner	Display a loading animation	true

Appearance Options

Setting	Description	Default
Background Color	Screen background color	theme default
Text Color	Message text color	theme default
Spinner Color	Loading spinner color	theme default
Font Size	Message text size	18px

Examples

Default Waiting Screen

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Waiting for Other Participants

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Text Only (No Spinner)

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Detailed Message with HTML

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The message field supports HTML formatting:

<h3>Please wait</h3>
<p>We are preparing the next part of the experiment.</p>
<p><small>This may take a few moments.</small></p>

Common Use Cases

Synchronization Points

In multi-participant experiments, use waiting states to synchronize all participants before proceeding:

Message: "Waiting for all participants to complete..."
Show Spinner: true

Processing Feedback

After a participant submits a complex response:

Message: "Processing your response..."
Show Spinner: true

Section Transitions

Between major sections of an experiment:

Message: "The next part will begin shortly."
Show Spinner: false

Timed Delays

When you need a brief pause (combined with state timing):

Message: "Get ready..."
Show Spinner: false

State Timing

The Waiting component is often used with timed state transitions:

1. Set the state's Duration to the desired wait time
2. Configure the Waiting component's message
3. The experiment automatically advances when the timer completes

This is useful for:

• Fixed-duration rest periods
• Brief transitions between stimuli
• Countdowns before tasks begin

Data Collection

The Waiting component doesn't collect participant responses, but timestamps are recorded:

{
  "stateEntered": 1621453287000,
  "stateExited": 1621453292000,
  "duration": 5000
}

Best Practices

1. Clear Messages: Tell participants what they're waiting for
2. Appropriate Spinner: Use spinner for active waiting, hide for brief pauses
3. Reasonable Duration: Don't make participants wait longer than necessary
4. Progress Indication: For longer waits, consider more detailed messages
5. Consistent Styling: Match the appearance to your experiment's theme

Related Components

• Text Display - For interactive content with continue button
• Trigger - For hardware synchronization