Accelerated Video Playback
During my time watching webinar replays and training to learn more about running my business, I am left with one small minor problem. Video playback speeds.
Did you know that faster playback helps with retention and more engagement? The average adult reads printed text at approximately 250 - 300 words per minute (WPM). The average speech speeds are approximately 150 wpm; while slide presentations the speaker would speak somewhere along the lines of 100 wpm as the either read along with the slides or give an explanation of what is happening.
I found that when I am using accelerated videos my attention span is longer and I am more engaged to what is going on. Studies have shown that those who use accelerated playback find it frustrating to return to normal playback speed.
Increasing HTML5 Video
The native API (application program interface) specifies how software components should interact and are used when programming graphical user interface (GUI). In some programming that the creator of the video uses can either limit or hide the interface to control playback speeds. Not just rewind and fast forward, we should be able to speed up or slow down certain sections right?
Well, there is a Chrome extension that allows you to do just that. It's called Video Speed Controller created by igrigorik. I'm sure there are many out there. Once you went ahead and installed it, there will be a small control panel in the top left corner of the video where you can speed up, slow down, rewind and skip forward. There are also keyboard controls you can use and customize the shortcuts too. By default it is set to:
- A - rewind video by 10 seconds
- S - decrease playback speed
- D - increase playback speed
- T - advance video by 10 seconds
My comfortable level when increasing video speeds is set to 1.3 to 1.5. My ears are not quite trained yet to listen to the chipmunks teaching me anything; not just yet.
Pros: Retain more and viewing more video content
Cons: It doesn't not work with all videos or humans
Hope you find this useful as much as I do.
Here's to learning with time on our side.
Michel "Blue"
Recent Comments
2
Blue, thank you VERY much! I too prefer to speed up videos and was wishing there was an option here at WA. I will definitely try this! You mentioned chipmunks--one of the things I like when I can speed up a YouTube video (or a Udemy video for those courses) is that they keep the pitch even as the speed goes up. But I will take a chipmunk if that is my only option.