Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing content based on a user-controllable adventurousness parameter

A computer-implemented system of transmitting content across a network to a user for playing or display based on a user-controllable adventurousness parameter, comprising:

• one or more data processors;
• one or more computer-readable mediums encoded with instructions for commanding the one or more data processors to execute steps comprising:
• accessing a content pool, wherein the content pool contains a plurality of content items, wherein each content item is associated with a first content parameter and a second content parameter;
• identifying a baseline position, wherein the baseline position is associated with a particular value of the first content parameter and a particular value of the second content parameter;
• receiving a user-controllable adventurousness parameter via a user interface, wherein the adventurousness parameter indicates a user preference for a next content item relative to the baseline position;
• selecting the next content item based on the baseline position and the adventurousness parameter, wherein selecting the next content item comprises:
• determining a distance between the baseline position and each content item in the content pool by calculating a Euclidean distance based on the first content parameter of that content item, the particular value of the first content parameter of the baseline position, the second content parameter of that content item, and the particular value of the second content parameter of the baseline position;
• wherein the adventurousness parameter indicates more adventurous or less adventurous relative to a distance from the baseline position to the current content item;
• wherein the next content item is selected as a content item having a greater Euclidean distance than the distance from the baseline position when the adventurousness parameter indicates more adventurous;
• and
• wherein the next content item is selected as a content item having a lesser Euclidean distance than the distance from the baseline position when the adventurousness parameter indicates less adventurous;
• and
• transmitting the next content item across a computer network for playing or display.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for commanding one or more data processors to execute steps for transmitting content across a network to a user for playing or display based on a user-controllable adventurousness parameter, comprising:

• accessing a content pool, wherein the content pool contains a plurality of content items, wherein each content item is associated with a first content parameter and a second content parameter;
• identifying a baseline position, wherein the baseline position is associated with a particular value of the first content parameter and a particular value of the second content parameter;
• receiving a user-controllable adventurousness parameter via a user interface, wherein the adventurousness parameter indicates a user preference for a next content item relative to the baseline position;
• selecting the next content item based on the baseline position and the adventurousness parameter, wherein selecting the next content item comprises:
• determining a distance between the baseline position and each content item in the content pool by calculating a Euclidean distance based on the first content parameter of that content item, the particular value of the first content parameter of the baseline position, the second content parameter of that content item, and the particular value of the second content parameter of the baseline position;
• wherein the adventurousness parameter indicates more adventurous or less adventurous relative to a distance from the baseline position to the current content item;
• wherein the next content item is selected as a content item having a greater Euclidean distance than the distance from the baseline position when the adventurousness parameter indicates more adventurous;
• and
• wherein the next content item is selected as a content item having a lesser Euclidean distance than the distance from the baseline position when the adventurousness parameter indicates less adventurous;
• and
• transmitting the next content item across a computer network for playing or display.