Time-dependent progressive disclosure of information

A method for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a building, the method comprising:

• outputting, by a controller of a HVAC system for a building, while the controller is in a first state, a first user interface for display at a display device of the controller, wherein the first user interface comprises first information that is displayed by the display device at a first output size;
• determining, by the controller without using a proximity sensor while the controller is in the first state and based at least in part on whether an elapsed time since a most recent indication of user input received at a user input device of the controller exceeds a timeout period, that no users are physically proximate to the controller;
• wherein the most recent indication of user input received at the user input device of the controller includes one or more of a physical interaction via a button, a dial, or a touch-sensitive input device;
• and
• in response to determining that no users are physically proximate to the controller:
• transitioning the controller from the first state to a second state, and
• outputting, by the controller, a second user interface at the display device of the controller, wherein the second user interface comprises second information that is displayed by the display device at a second output size that is larger than the first output size.