Content Relocation on a Surface

Abstract

Techniques described herein enable content to be relocated on a display surface when an object in front of the display surface visually obstructs a location at which the content is displayed. At least some implementations relocate the content based upon determining that the content includes an amount of content at a predefined threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable storage memories storing processor-executable instructions which, responsive to execution by the one or more processors, cause the system to display contents on a display surface and to perform operations including:
 ascertaining that an object in front of the display surface at least partially visually obstructs a first location associated with content displayed on the display surface; 
 determining that the content displayed on the display surface includes an amount of data that reaches a predefined data threshold; 
 ascertaining a second location on the display surface that is visually unobstructed by the object; and 
 automatically modifying the content displayed on the display surface by visually relocating the content from the first location on the display surface to the second location on the display surface based on the amount of data reaching the predefined data threshold. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said determining that the content displayed on the display surface includes the amount of data that reaches the predefined data threshold includes:
 receiving the content as text input to the display surface;   determining that the text input reaches the predefined data threshold; and   determining that the text input has continued to a next line after reaching the predefined data threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further including one or more sensors, and wherein said ascertaining that the object at least partially visually obstructs the first location includes using the one or more sensors to define an area of an obstruction at the first location relative to the display surface. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further including an optical sensor, and wherein said ascertaining that the object at least partially visually obstructs the first location includes using the optical sensor to define an area of an obstruction at the first location relative to the display surface. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further including one or more sensors embedded around a periphery of the display surface, and wherein said ascertaining that the object at least partially visually obstructs the first location includes using the one or more sensors to define an area of an obstruction at the first location relative to the display surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the display surface includes multiple display devices, the first location is associated with a first display device of the multiple display devices, and said ascertaining the second location includes ascertaining the second location on a second display device of the multiple display devices. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further including one or more cameras, and wherein said ascertaining that the object at least partially visually obstructs the first location associated with content includes detecting an area of obstruction at the first location by using the one or more cameras to capture an image of the surface and the object in front of the surface. 
     
     
         8 . The system claim as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said automatically modifying the display of the content on the display surface by relocating the content further includes visually modifying the display of content to dynamically float the content from the first location on the display surface to the second location on the display surface. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 means for rendering content at a first location of a display surface;   means for determining that an obstruction in front of the display surface at least partially visually obstructs the first location;   means for ascertaining a second location of the display surface that is unobstructed by the obstruction; and   means for automatically rendering the content at the second location based on determining that an amount of data included the content reaches a predefined data threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The system recited in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said determining that an obstruction in front of the display surface at least partially visually obstructs the first location includes using a grid system that maps to the display surface to ascertain grid coordinates of the first location,   said ascertaining the second location includes using the grid system to ascertain grid coordinates of the second location, and   said rendering the content at the second location includes using the grid coordinates of the first location and the grid coordinates of the second location to visually relocate the content.   
     
     
         11 . The system recited in  claim 9 , wherein said determining that an obstruction in front of the display surface at least partially visually obstructs the first location includes receiving user input associated with selecting the content at the first location. 
     
     
         12 . The system recited in  claim 9 , wherein said ascertaining the second location of the display surface that is unobstructed by the obstruction further includes identifying a predefined boundary box to use for the second location. 
     
     
         13 . The system recited in  claim 9 , wherein the content includes one or more of web content, video, or an image. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein one or more of said determining that an obstruction in front of the display surface at least partially visually obstructs the first location, or said ascertaining the second location that is unobstructed by the obstruction includes using a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 ascertaining that an object in front of the display surface at least partially visually obstructs a first location associated with content displayed on the display surface;   determining that the content displayed on the display surface includes an amount of data that reaches a predefined data threshold;   ascertaining a second location on the display surface that is visually unobstructed by the object; and   automatically modifying the content displayed on the display surface by visually relocating the content from the first location on the display surface to the second location on the display surface based on the amount of data reaching the predefined data threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said ascertaining that the object at least partially visually obstructs the first location includes using an optical sensor to define an area of an obstruction at the first location relative to the display surface. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said ascertaining that the object at least partially visually obstructs the first location includes using one or more sensors embedded around a periphery of the display surface to define an area of an obstruction at the first location relative to the display surface. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , further including capturing the content as user input at the first location to generate the content, wherein said capturing the content as user input includes capturing user input via a stylus. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , further including using one or more sensors embedded among one or more pixels associated with the display surface to ascertain the first location. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said ascertaining the second location includes:
 using a grid system that maps to the display surface to obtain grid coordinates of the first location of the obstruction; and   calculating the second location or area using the grid system and the grid coordinates of the first location or area.