Many online readers face frustration when they can't tell how long an article is before committing time to it. This is particularly problematic for busy professionals, students, and casual readers who need to quickly decide whether an article fits their available time. A simple tool that displays word count and estimated reading time could help users make more informed browsing decisions.

The Core Solution

One way to address this would be through a browser extension that automatically calculates and displays word count when visiting articles. The extension could:

• Scan the webpage's text content using smart detection algorithms
• Calculate both word count and reading time (based on average speeds of 200-300 words per minute)
• Show the information unobtrusively in the browser interface
• Allow customization of reading speed preferences and display options

How It Stands Out

While some existing tools offer similar functionality, they typically require manual work like copy-pasting text or are bundled with other features. This solution would be differentiated by:

• Working automatically across all visited pages without user intervention
• Focusing solely on the quick length-assessment use case
• Offering more customization than basic word count tools
• Integrating seamlessly into the browsing experience

Possible Approaches to Build It

A minimal version could start as a Chrome extension using simple text extraction from common article formats. Over time, it might incorporate:

1. More sophisticated content detection for tricky websites
2. Features like tracking reading time across sessions
3. Options to filter or sort articles by length when browsing

For users who juggle multiple articles daily, such a tool could become an invisible but essential part of their reading workflow, helping them allocate their attention more efficiently.