Summarize Websites & RSS Feeds with tldr.it

The Shifting Landscape of Attention Spans

A colleague of mine working in cinematography shared a valuable insight regarding music video production. They explained that keeping each scene brief – under five seconds – is crucial for maintaining viewer engagement.

This approach, they elaborated, stems from the increasingly short attention spans prevalent, particularly among younger generations.

Our conversation then explored the underlying causes contributing to this diminished capacity for sustained focus.

Information Overload: A Primary Factor

Information overload is arguably the most significant contributor to this phenomenon. Technological advancements have led to an exponential increase in the volume of information we encounter daily.

However, the time available to process this information remains constant.

As a result, we instinctively reduce the time allocated to each piece of content in an attempt to accommodate everything.

A Counterproductive Strategy

This adaptation, however, proves to be a suboptimal solution. Rather than superficially skimming across numerous sources, a more effective approach involves identifying and concentrating on the essential information.

Tools like tldr.it can be instrumental in achieving this focused consumption.

By prioritizing core concepts and eliminating extraneous details, we can reclaim our ability to engage deeply with meaningful content.

The Story Behind the Name

This service offers a straightforward function: it assists users in condensing lengthy articles and extensive RSS feeds into short, medium, and long summaries.

Upon visiting the website, users are presented with two input fields, one designated for RSS feeds and the other for URLs. Let's evaluate the effectiveness of the summarization engine.

Initially, the "Compress A Feed" tool was tested using the MakeUseOf feed URL. After inputting the address and selecting "Summarize", four distinct URLs were generated, representing the original, short, medium, and long versions of the feed.

These URLs were then utilized within a news reader. A single article was randomly selected from each RSS version, and a comparison was conducted. The outcome, frankly, proved underwhelming. Excessive extraneous information resulted in a reading experience that lacked clarity.

The evaluation then shifted to the "Summarize A URL" tool, with the address of the previously used article being pasted into the field. Similar to the feed summarization, four versions were produced. A surprising discovery was made: the results were notably better – a stark contrast to those obtained with the RSS feed.

In conclusion, it is recommended to utilize the URL tool and avoid the RSS feed tool – at least for the present time.

Convenience Through Bookmarklets

For users who prefer not to repeatedly visit the tldr.it website to obtain summaries of articles they discover, a bookmarklet offers a convenient alternative. A link to this helpful tool is located beneath the RSS and URL input fields.

Simply drag and drop this link directly onto your browser's bookmark bar for easy access.

After adding the bookmarklet, be sure to assign it a descriptive name for quick identification.

Summarizing Webpages with a Click

With the bookmarklet installed, you can now generate a summary of any article currently open in your browser with a single click. The resulting summary will appear in a new browser tab.

Therefore, if you frequently find yourself needing to process large amounts of information within limited time, tldr.it can prove to be a valuable resource.

However, it is recommended to utilize the URL summarization tool until the RSS feed summarizing functionality is further developed and refined.

We encourage you to test the service and share your feedback in the comments section below.