The Input Efficiency Equation

I created this equation as a simple framework for thinking about input efficiency.

Input Efficiency = ∛(Attention × Comprehension × Density)

Where:

• Attention: How focused you are on the content (0-100)
• Comprehension: How much you understand (0-100)
• Density: How frequently language is being used (0-100)

The geometric mean (cube root of the product) means that if any one factor drops to zero, the whole equation equals zero.
For example: You're paying full attention and taking in the full meaning, but you're looking at a picture book with no words. The density is zero, so input efficiency is zero.

Comprehensible Input

There's often a debate in the community around the importance of comprehensible input.

CI content aims to maximise comprehension and density. However, some find it boring and struggle to pay attention, which affects the overall efficiency.

If you are one of those people: watching content you actually enjoy (high attention, high density, lower comprehension) can be just as efficient as watching CI content you don't enjoy. Plus, it'll be easier to rack up hours watching anime you love than forcing yourself through CI content.

That said, if you can pay attention to CI content, absolutely do that as efficiency will be at its peak.

Passive Immersion

Passive immersion = immersing while doing something else (driving, cooking, exercising).

People ask: "Is passive immersion useful?"
It's not binary—useful or not—but rather how useful is it, and what can we do to increase its usefulness?
With passive immersion, attention is low but not zero. To increase the passive immersion’s value:

• Boost comprehension: Listen to content you've already watched
• Boost density: Use condensed audio (silence removed)

Passive immersion is particularly attractive to me because you can fit it into many time slots throughout your day. Even though the efficiency is lower, you can multiply it by many more hours.