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It's the ultimate 'cheat' for those who don't want to feel left out when everyone's talking about the latest box sets... but also don't want to spend time actually watching them.

Scientists have devised a way of condensing an entire TV show or film into just two or three minutes, providing all the key moments without the need to sit through the slow parts in between.

The 'video summarisation', which takes just a minute to be crunched from a programme, can then be sent to your smartphone or iPad.

Binge watching: A whole season of the US drama Breaking Bad could be viewed in just 20 minutes, with the help of the Skimo, or Skim the Video, technology

With the system an episode of EastEnders or Coronation Street would take just two minutes to watch.

Box sets can also be condensed, meaning there is no excuse for not seeing a series that everyone is talking about.

For instance, a whole season of the US drama Breaking Bad could be viewed in just 20 minutes.

The entire five seasons of the acclaimed Baltimore crime series The Wire could be seen in just three hours, with the help of the Skimo, or Skim the Video, technology.

The system, developed in California, works by analysing the 'language' or 'grammar' of the footage.  But instead of letters, words and sentences, it looks at the scenes, shots and frames.

Fast forward: With help of the Skimo technology, a short summarisation of the show is sent to your smartphone or tablet

Skimo scientists say that filmmakers – either consciously or unconsciously – usually follow a formula.  This includes having a set number of key scenes and putting extra effort into them.

These scenes may be brighter, faster, or louder or captured using more shots than usual.

The Skimo technology searches for these clues, pulls out a handful of scenes and puts them together in a short video.

The firm's founder, Vasu Srinivasan, said: 'While every director has their own way of doing things just like every writer, they also have to follow a uniform pattern.

'Otherwise it would be too distracting to the viewer. Crucial scenes are given more focus, are often brighter, have more detail or shots and it is this that the Skimo Engine picks up.

'Most long play films and television episodes will have six or less crucial scenes and by crunching them together we can produce a summary.

'Our hope and dream is that one day Skimo will become part of the language like watching a trailer or film commentary.

'The great thing is it works for any type of film or programme in any language.'

Several episodes of the US comedy Frasier have already been given the Skimo treatment and the company is in talks with the American network NBC, the Spanish Telemundo and the Discovery Channel.

Mr Srinivasan, who previously worked for smartphone firm Motorola, also hopes to create summaries of the British made Harry Potter series of films.

Initially, the service is likely to be available through interactive TV, with viewers pushing a button on their remote control to crunch programmes shown on a particular channel.

But if the system takes off, it may be possible to buy video recorder-like Skimo box.