Systems and methods for adaptively modifying presentation of media content

1. A method comprising:

presenting for display content on a device comprising a display area;

determining an actual size of the content on the display area, wherein the actual size of the content is less than a size of the display area;

determining a distance between a user and the device;

determining an apparent size of the content, wherein the apparent size corresponds to a size that the user perceives the display area to be;

comparing the apparent size of the content to the size of the display area;

in response to determining, based on the comparing, that the apparent size of the content is less than the size of the display area, increasing the actual size of the content such that the apparent size of the content matches the size of the display area;

in response to increasing the actual size of the content, determining a current focus of the content item; and

generating for display only a spatial portion in which a subject of the current focus is displayed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the actual size of the content comprises modifying a zoom level of the content.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the amount by which the zoom level is modified is inversely proportional to the apparent size of the content.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

calculating a ratio between the zoom level and the apparent size of the content;

detecting a change in distance between the user and the display area; and

in response to detecting the change in distance:

determining a second distance between the user and the display area;

calculating a second apparent size of the content based on the actual size of the content and the second distance; and

modifying the zoom level of the content by an amount determined to maintain the ratio between the zoom level and the apparent size of the content.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the zoom level comprises:

comparing the apparent size of the content to a first threshold size;

in response to determining that the apparent size is larger than or equal to the first threshold size, setting the zoom level of the content to a default zoom level; and

in response to determining that the apparent size is smaller than the first threshold size:

determining a difference between the apparent size and the first threshold size; and

increasing the zoom level of the content by a zoom factor corresponding to the difference.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein increasing the zoom level of the content comprises:

determining a zoom level at which the apparent size of the content matches an actual size of the content; and

modifying the zoom level of the content by the zoom factor.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

comparing the apparent size of the content to a second threshold size that is smaller than the first threshold size; and

in response to determining, based on the comparing, that the apparent size is smaller than the second threshold size, panning the content.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein panning the content comprises:

identifying a spatial portion of the content containing a current focus of the content; and

generating for display the spatial portion of the content in the display area.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current focus of the content item comprises one of a character, an actor, a location, or an audio source.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the current focus of the content item comprises:

identifying a plurality of entities displayed in the content;

determining, for each entity of the plurality of entities, a timestamp at which the respective entity is the focus of the content;

monitoring a current timestamp of the content; and

in response to determining that the current timestamp matches a timestamp at which a respective entity of the plurality of entities is the focus of the content, identifying the respective entity and the current focus of the content.

11. A system comprising:

a display device, and

control circuitry configured to:

present for display content on a display area of the display device;

determine an actual size of the content on the display area, wherein the actual size of the content is less than a size of the display area;

determine a distance between a user and the display device;

determine an apparent size of the content, wherein the apparent size corresponds to a size that the user perceives the display area to be;

compare the apparent size of the content to the size of the display area;

in response to determining, based on the comparing, that the apparent size of the content is less than the size of the display area, increase the actual size of the content such that the apparent size of the content matches the size of the display area;

in response to increasing the actual size of the content, determine a current focus of the content item; and

generate for display only a spatial portion in which a subject of the current focus is displayed.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry configured to increase the actual size of the content is further configured to modify a zoom level of the content.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the amount by which the zoom level is modified is inversely proportional to the apparent size of the content.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

calculate a ratio between the zoom level and the apparent size of the content;

detect a change in distance between the user and the display area; and

in response to detecting the change in distance:

determine a second distance between the user and the display area;

calculate a second apparent size of the content based on the actual size of the content and the second distance; and

modify the zoom level of the content by an amount determined to maintain the ratio between the zoom level and the apparent size of the content.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry configured to modify the zoom level is further configured to:

compare the apparent size of the content to a first threshold size;

in response to determining that the apparent size is larger than or equal to the first threshold size, set the zoom level of the content to a default zoom level; and

in response to determining that the apparent size is smaller than the first threshold size:

determine a difference between the apparent size and the first threshold size; and

increase the zoom level of the content by a zoom factor corresponding to the difference.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the control circuitry configured to increase the zoom level of the content is further configured to:

determine a zoom level at which the apparent size of the content matches an actual size of the content; and

modify the zoom level of the content by the zoom factor.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

compare the apparent size of the content to a second threshold size that is smaller than the first threshold size; and

in response to determining, based on the comparing, that the apparent size is smaller than the second threshold size, pan the content.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the control circuitry configured to pan the content is further configured to:

identify a spatial portion of the content containing a current focus of the content; and

generate for display the spatial portion of the content in the display area.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the current focus of the content item comprises one of a character, an actor, a location, or an audio source.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry configured to determine the current focus of the content item is further configured to:

identify a plurality of entities displayed in the content;

determine, for each entity of the plurality of entities, a timestamp at which the respective entity is the focus of the content;

monitor a current timestamp of the content; and

in response to determining that the current timestamp matches a timestamp at which a respective entity of the plurality of entities is the focus of the content, identify the respective entity and the current focus of the content.