Messaging system

A method of generating message data at a generating computer device for transmission to a receiving computer device, the method comprising:

• receiving at least one first viewable element selected by a user at an input component of the generating computer device, the first element to be viewed in a first part of the message;
• receiving a second part of the message input by the user;
• and
• composing message data comprising the first and second message parts and timing control data which causes the message data received at the receiving computer device to be rendered as a time sequence in which a user perceptible activation associated with the second message part is delayed for a first time period controlled by the timing control data after displaying the first viewable element of the first message part.

A computer device configured to receive a message comprising message data, the computer device comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to execute a computer program which, when executed, causes the processing circuitry to carry out the steps of:
• detecting a first viewable element in a first part of the message data;
• detecting a delimiter in the message data;
• determining a first time period for delaying activation of a second part of the message;
• displaying a first part of the message on a display of the computer device, the first part of the message only, the first part defined by the delimiter in the message data, the first part comprising the first viewable element;
• and
• after expiry of the first time period generating a user perceptible activation associated with the second part of the message, to be perceived by a user at the receiving computing device while continuing to display the first part of the message;
• wherein the first time period is determined by the message data received at the receiving computer device.

A computer program stored on non-transitory media comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the following steps:

• detecting a first viewable element in a first part of message data received at the computer;
• detecting a delimiter in the message data;
• determining a first time period for delaying activation of a second part of the message;
• displaying a first part of the message only, the first part defined by the delimiter in the message data, the first part comprising the first viewable element;
• and
• after expiry of the first time period generating a user perceptible activation associated with the second part of the message, to be perceived by a user while continuing to display the first part of the message;
• wherein the first time period is determined from the message data received at the receiving computer device.

A computer program stored on non-transitory media comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

• receiving at least one first viewable element selected by a user at an input component of the generating computer device, the first element to be viewed in a first part of the message;
• receiving a second part of the message input by the user;
• and
• composing message data comprising the first and second message parts and timing control data which causes the message data received at a remote computer device to be rendered as a time sequence in which a user perceptible activation associated with the second message part is delayed for a first time period controlled by the timing control data after displaying the first viewable element of the first message part.

A messaging system comprising a generating computer device configured to generate message data defining a message, and a receiving computer device configured to receive the message data, the receiving computer device comprising processing circuitry configured to execute a computer program which, when executed, causes the receiving computing device to carry out the steps of:

• detecting a first viewable element in a first part of the message data;
• detecting a delimiter in the message data;
• determining a first time period for delaying activation of a second part of the message;
• displaying a first part of the message only, the first part defined by the delimiter in the message data, the first part comprising the first viewable element;
• and
• after expiry of the first time period generating a user perceptible activation associated with the second part of the message, to be perceived by a user at the receiving computer device while continuing to display the first part of the message;
• wherein the first time period is determined from the message data received at the receiving computer device.