from push-messages to chat

Push messages based on channels is programmed and tested - a good foundation for chats.

For chats you need:

• a register of users or groups of users with whom you want to chat
• that pretty much resembles the co-reader function that is already implemented
• and channels too can be used as group-definition
• a special chat dialog has to be programmed, that can be integrated to the display of push messages that already exists
• a comment-function to diary entries that open a push dialog - would also be a good idea for later enhancements

In an app with touchscreen and without physical keyboard the layout changes when the keyboard is displayed. That will be done automatically.
A study of existing applications with chat functions show:

• every application is a little bit different in the layout and the user navigation
• the old chat protocol is above the entry field for a new chat entry - that's standard
• in detail there are variations:
• the entry field is part of the footer and has a fixed position within the footer
• the entry field overwrites the footer 
• the entry field follows the text and is not part of the footer
• when the entry field is activated - for touch displays
• entry field and footer go to the top to give room to the virtual keyboard
• entry field goes to the top to give room to the virtual keyboard and footer is hidden

It's not possible to cover all the layouts of all the popular chat applications (like facebook, twitter, whatsapp, skype), so Ninas Travel App gets it's own layout with the intention of intuitive usability.