JP2012146324A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of improving operability in a software keyboard.SOLUTION: An information processor includes: detection means for detecting touch operation performed on a display screen; display control means for displaying plural key images on the display screen; setting means for setting a predetermined area on the display screen other than a first area displaying the plural key images as a second area where the same operation as operation through the plural key images can be performed; and operation means for associating the touch operation on the second area detected by the detection means with the operation through the plural key images. An initial position of a pointer on the plural key images is placed at a predetermined key according to a setting position of the second area on the display screen.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for inputting characters using a software keyboard.

  With the spread of small information processing devices such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), there are some which use software keyboards displayed on display devices as character input means instead of hardware character input means such as keyboards. is doing. An information processing apparatus using such a software keyboard as a character input means is generally used in combination with a touch panel type display device, and is configured so that characters corresponding to keys touched by a fingertip or the like are input. Has been.

  Conventionally, various techniques for improving the operability of a software keyboard have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a key response that can be input while maintaining the display area of each key displayed on the screen. A technique for expanding only the area is disclosed.

JP 2007-299198 A

  By the way, when the display screen of the display device is small, when the software keyboard is displayed, the software keyboard occupies most of the screen, which makes it difficult to see other areas. In addition, if the software keyboard itself is made smaller for enlargement of other areas, it is necessary to reduce the size of each key, which makes it difficult to operate with the fingertips, resulting in a problem that operability is lowered. Furthermore, when a software keyboard is operated using a fingertip, the key character is hidden by the fingertip, so that there is a problem that an erroneous operation is likely to occur. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, it is possible to display a key that can be input and a key that cannot be input in a distinguishable state, but the above-described basic problem cannot be solved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus, a character input method, and a program capable of improving the operability of a software keyboard.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes a detection unit that detects a contact operation performed on a display screen, a display control unit that displays a plurality of key images on the display screen, Setting means for setting a predetermined area of the display screen other than the first area in which a plurality of key images are displayed as a second area capable of the same operation as the operation through the plurality of key images; and the detection Operation means for associating a contact operation in the second area detected by the means with an operation via the plurality of key images, and the plurality of the plurality of areas according to a set position of the second area on the display screen. The initial position of the pointer on the key image is arranged at a predetermined key.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software keyboard displayed on the display unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when setting the touchpad area. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a virtual touchpad displayed on the display unit. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when the switch button is pressed. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a touch operation on the virtual touchpad. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a touch operation on the virtual touchpad. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a touch operation on the virtual touchpad. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the character input process. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in a form using two touch pad areas.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of an information processing apparatus, a character input method, and a program according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, this invention shall not be limited to the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the information processing apparatus 100 includes a processor 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a storage unit 14, a display unit 15, and an input unit 16, and each unit is connected by a bus 17. .

  The processor 11 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and executes the predetermined program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage unit 14 to centralize the information processing device 100. To control.

  Further, the processor 11 realizes each functional unit of a display control unit 21, a touch pad area setting unit 22, and a SWK operation receiving unit 23, which will be described later, in cooperation with a predetermined program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage unit 14 in advance. To do.

  The ROM 12 is a read-only storage device that stores the BIOS and the like of the information processing apparatus 100. The RAM 13 functions as a buffer and is a volatile storage device that temporarily stores various data in a rewritable manner.

  The storage unit 14 is composed of a nonvolatile storage device such as an HDD or a semiconductor storage device, and stores various information such as data related to display of a software keyboard and the like described later, a program for realizing character input processing, and the like. .

  The display unit 15 includes a display panel such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various information based on a display signal from the processor 11.

  The input unit 16 is a touch panel provided integrally with the display unit 15, detects a contact operation performed by the user on the display screen of the display unit 15, and informs the processor 11 of the contact position, the direction of the slide operation, and the like. Output. The operation method of the touch panel mounted on the input unit 16 is not particularly limited. For example, a capacitive touch panel can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 realized by the processor 11 described above. As shown in the figure, the processor 11 cooperates with a predetermined program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage unit 14 to display the display control unit 21, the touch pad area setting unit 22, and the SWK operation reception unit 23. Is realized as a functional part.

  Here, the display control unit 21 includes a SWK display control unit 211 and a touchpad area display control unit 212, and image data stored in the ROM 12 and the storage unit 14 and various information generated by the processor 11. The display on the display unit 15 is controlled.

  The SWK display control unit 211 displays a software keyboard simulating a keyboard or the like in a predetermined area such as the lower part of the screen on the display screen of the display unit 15. Here, the software keyboard has a plurality of key images (hereinafter simply referred to as keys), and when a key input of a specific key is instructed via the input unit 16 or the SWK operation accepting unit 23, the SWK display control unit 211 displays the character represented by this key in a predetermined character input area of the display screen.

  Further, when the pointer is moved to a specific key under the control of the SWK operation accepting unit 23 described later, the SWK display control unit 211 highlights the key itself or the character represented by the key.

  Further, when switching of the input format of the software keyboard is instructed via the input unit 16, the SWK display control unit 211 switches the display to the instructed software keyboard for the input format. Here, "input format" means a character type (character code) that can be entered with a software keyboard. For example, lowercase letters that can be entered in lowercase letters, uppercase letters that can be entered in uppercase letters, and numbers can be entered. Examples include numeric input and special character input that can input symbols and pictograms.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software keyboard displayed on the display unit 15 under the control of the SWK display control unit 211. In the figure, an example is shown in which a software keyboard SWK having a QWERTY layout is displayed at the bottom of the display screen. The key layout of the software keyboard and the area where the software keyboard is displayed are not limited to the example in FIG.

  The timing at which the SWK display control unit 211 displays the software keyboard is not particularly limited. For example, the SWK display control unit 211 may display the character keyboard in the character input area such as the text box T1 shown in FIG. It is good also as a form always displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the touch pad area display control unit 212 displays an image representing the touch pad area (hereinafter referred to as virtual touch) based on the coordinates of the touch pad area on the display screen set by the touch pad area setting unit 22 described later. (Referred to as a pad) is displayed on the display unit 15.

  Further, the touch pad area display control unit 212 causes the display unit 15 to display a switching button that can selectively switch the input format of the software keyboard along with the virtual touch pad.

  When a predetermined touch operation is detected by the input unit 16, the touch pad area setting unit 22 sets a predetermined area other than the area where the software keyboard is displayed as a touch pad area for operating the software keyboard. To do. Here, examples of the “predetermined contact operation” include a long press on the display screen and a gesture operation, but are not limited to this example. The touch pad area is not particularly limited except for the display area of the software keyboard. For example, the area around the position where the predetermined touch operation is detected or the area other than the area where the software keyboard is displayed. All areas, predetermined specific areas, etc. may be used. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the touch pad area is set around the position where the contact operation is detected.

  As described above, the touch pad area set by the touch pad area setting unit 22 is displayed on the display unit 15 as a virtual touch pad under the control of the touch pad area display control unit 212. Hereinafter, an example of the operation until the virtual touchpad is displayed will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when setting the touchpad area. First, when the user operating the information processing apparatus 100 presses and holds the display screen for a predetermined touch operation related to the setting of the touch pad area, the touch operation is detected by the input unit 16. At this time, the touch pad area setting unit 22 determines that setting of the touch pad area is instructed, and sets the area around the position where the long press is detected as the touch pad area A1.

  In FIG. 4, the shape of the touch pad region is rectangular, but the shape is not limited to this, and may be a circular shape, for example. The size of the touch pad area is not particularly limited. For example, a pre-set size may be used, or the size may be determined based on the operation range of the finger that is slid on the display screen. It is good also as a form to do.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the virtual touchpad displayed on the display unit 15 and is a visualization of the touchpad area A1 illustrated in FIG. As described in FIG. 4, when the touch pad area A1 is set by the touch pad area setting unit 22, the touch pad area display control unit 212 performs virtual touch on the area on the display screen corresponding to the touch pad area A1. The pad P1 is displayed.

  In this way, by visually representing the touch pad area in the display screen, the user can intuitively grasp the touch pad area, so that operability can be improved. The image and transparency representing the virtual touch panel are not particularly limited. For example, in the case where all areas other than the area where the software keyboard is displayed are set as the touch pad area, the virtual touch panel It is preferable to control the background image to be visible by setting the transparency to 95% or the like.

  Further, the touch pad area display control unit 212 causes the display unit 15 to display a switching button B1 that can selectively switch the input format of the software keyboard SWK, accompanying the virtual touch pad P1. Here, the switching button B1 includes a button B11 for instructing a lowercase character input, a button B12 for instructing an uppercase character input, and a button B13 for inputting a number input, and any one input format. (Button) is configured to be selectable.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the switching button B <b> 1 is displayed on the upper part of the virtual touch panel. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is good also as a form displayed on the right part of a virtual touch panel, and good also as a form displayed on the state isolate | separated from the virtual touch panel image.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when the switching button (button B11) illustrated in FIG. 5 is pressed. As shown in the figure, when the button B11 is contacted (pressed), this contact operation is detected by the input unit 16. At this time, the SWK display control unit 211 determines that switching of the input format has been instructed, and displays the input format instructed by the button B11, that is, the software keyboard SWK for lowercase input as shown in FIG. Switch.

  5 and 6, the key “G” on the software keyboard is a key on which a later-described pointer is arranged by the SWK operation accepting unit 23, and is highlighted by the control of the SWK display control unit 211.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 is a functional unit that associates the contact operation detected in the touch pad area by the input unit 16 with the key operation on the software keyboard.

  Specifically, when a predetermined touch operation for touch pad area setting is detected by the input unit 16, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 determines the initial position of the pointer on the software keyboard according to the detected position. Place on the key. Here, the “pointer” is for pointing to a key selected on the software keyboard. This pointer may be displayed so that the user can visually recognize it, or may be invisible. In the present embodiment, the key on which the pointer is arranged is made invisible because it is highlighted by the control of the SWK display control unit 211.

  For example, in the display screen of the display unit 15 shown in FIG. 5, when a long press is detected in the left half screen, the initial position of the pointer is the key “G” and the long press in the right half screen is performed. Is detected, the initial position of the pointer is set to the key “H”. Note that the left side of the display screen means a screen area on the left hand side when both ends of the information processing apparatus 100 are gripped with both hands, and the right side of the display screen is when both ends of the information processing apparatus 100 are gripped. Means the screen area on the right hand side. The initial position of the pointer is not limited to this example.

  When the SWK operation accepting unit 23 accepts, via the input unit 16, that the touch pad area has been slid in one of the top, bottom, left, and right directions or a combination thereof, the slid operation is performed on the software keyboard. Move the pointer position. Note that the amount of movement of the pointer is determined according to the amount of slide, the operation speed, etc. during the slide operation.

  Further, when the SWK operation accepting unit 23 accepts, via the input unit 16, that the touch pad area has been tapped a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time while the pointer is placed on the specific key, The SWK display control unit 211 is notified that the key input is instructed to display the character represented by the key on the display unit 15.

  Here, “tap a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time” means a single tap, a double tap or the like, and means a touch operation for instructing key input. Note that the contact operation for instructing key input is not limited to this example, and may be a gesture operation, for example. In addition, a determination button for instructing determination of key input may be separately displayed, and a key may be notified in accordance with a touch operation on the determination button.

  Hereinafter, an example of an operation on the virtual touchpad will be described with reference to FIGS. 7-9 is a figure for demonstrating contact operation with a virtual touchpad.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the user operating the information processing apparatus 100 slides his / her finger to the right on the touch pad area, that is, the virtual touch pad P1, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 responds to this contact operation. Move the pointer position on the software keyboard to the right. At this time, the SWK display control unit 211 sequentially performs highlighting of the keys on which the pointers are arranged, so that the user can visually recognize the movement locus of the pointers as shown in FIG.

  When the pointer is moved to the position of the key “O” by the slide operation in the touch pad area, the display screen of the display unit 15 is in the state shown in FIG. At this time, if the touchpad area is tapped a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 notifies the SWK display control unit 211 that the input of the key “O” corresponding to the current pointer position is instructed. Notice. In response to the notification from the SWK operation accepting unit 23, the SWK display control unit 211 displays the character represented by the notified key, that is, “O” in the text box T1.

  In addition, when a touch operation for releasing the touch pad area is performed, such as when a finger is released from the touch pad area for a predetermined time, the touch pad area setting unit 22 determines that the operation in the touch pad area is finished, and touches Release the pad area. With the release of the touch pad area, the touch pad area display control unit 212 ends the display of the virtual touch panel, thereby erasing the virtual touch pad P1 from the display screen as shown in FIG.

  Note that the touch pad region releasing method is not limited to the above example, and other methods may be used. For example, a gesture operation or the like for releasing the touch pad area may be determined in advance, and the touch pad area may be released when the gesture operation is detected. Alternatively, a release button for releasing the touch pad area may be separately displayed, and the touch pad area may be released when a touch operation on the release button is detected.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the character input process. As a premise of this process, it is assumed that a software keyboard is already displayed on the display unit 15.

  First, the touch pad area setting unit 22 waits until a long pressing operation on the display screen is detected by the input unit 16 (step S11; No). Here, when a long press operation is detected by the input unit 16 (step S11; Yes), the touch pad region setting unit 22 sets a touch pad region around the position where the long press operation is detected (step S12). ).

  Subsequently, the touch pad area display control unit 212 displays a virtual touch panel representing the touch pad area set in step S12 on the display unit 15, and visualizes the touch pad area (step S13). At this time, the touch pad area display control unit 212 also displays a switching button for switching the input format of the software keyboard.

  On the other hand, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 determines whether the detection position of the long press operation that is a trigger for the touch pad area setting is located in the left half area or the right half area of the display screen ( Step S14). If it is determined that the position is in the left half area (step S14; L), the SWK operation accepting unit 23 places a pointer at the position of the key “G” on the software keyboard (step S15), and the process of step S17. Migrate to If it is determined that the position is in the right half area (step S14; R), the SWK operation accepting unit 23 places a pointer at the position of the key “H” on the software keyboard (step S16), and performs the process of step S17. Transition.

  In the following step S17, the SWK display control unit 211 causes the user to recognize the currently selected key by highlighting the key on which the point is arranged in step S15 or S16 (step S17).

  Next, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 monitors the detection result at the input unit 16 and determines whether or not a slide operation has been detected in the touchpad area (step S18). If no slide operation is detected (step S18; No), the process proceeds to step S21.

  If a slide operation is detected in step S18 (step S18; Yes), the SWK operation accepting unit 23 moves the pointer position on the software keyboard according to the slide direction of the slide operation (step S19). Further, along with the processing in step S19, the SWK display control unit 211 sequentially highlights the keys on which the pointers are arranged in accordance with the movement of the points in step S18 (step S20).

  In subsequent step S21, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 monitors the detection result of the input unit 16, and determines whether or not a predetermined number of taps have been detected within a predetermined time in the touch pad area (step S21). Here, when a predetermined number of taps are not detected within a predetermined time (step S21; No), the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S21, when a predetermined number of taps are detected within a predetermined time (step S21; Yes), the SWK operation accepting unit 23 inputs a key corresponding to the pointer position when this tap operation is detected. Is notified to the SWK display control unit 211 (step S22). When the key input is notified from the SWK operation accepting unit 23, the SWK display control unit 211 displays the character represented by the key in a predetermined character input area (step S23).

  In the subsequent step S24, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 monitors the detection result at the input unit 16 and determines whether or not a contact operation for releasing the touch pad area has been detected (step S24). Here, when the contact operation for canceling the touchpad area is not detected (step S24; No), the process returns to step S18 again.

  On the other hand, when the contact operation for releasing the touch pad area is detected in step S24 (step S24; Yes), the touch pad area setting unit 22 releases the touch pad area set in step S12 (step S25). . In addition, with the process of step S25, the touch pad area display control unit 212 ends the display of the virtual touch panel, thereby erasing the virtual touch panel from the display screen (step S26), and ends the process.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the software keyboard can be operated via the touch pad area set in an area other than the display area of the software keyboard, the software keyboard is directly touched. There is no need. This makes it possible to perform key operations even when the software keyboard itself is made small, and it is possible to prevent the characters represented by each key from being hidden by the fingertips. Stress can be reduced and the operability of the software keyboard can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, a mode in which one touch pad area is set in the display screen has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of touch pad areas are set and characters are set via the plurality of touch pad areas. It is good also as a form where input is performed. Hereinafter, as a modification of the above-described embodiment, a mode in which two touch pad areas are set will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the embodiment, and shows an example of a display screen in a form in which two touch pad areas (virtual touch pads P2 and P3) are set.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the display screen of the display unit 15 is long pressed by the right thumb and the left thumb, the touch pad area setting unit 22 sets a touch pad area around these detection positions. Accordingly, the touch pad area display control unit 212 displays virtual touch pads P <b> 2 and P <b> 3 representing each touch pad area on the display unit 15.

  The touch pad area display control unit 212 causes the display unit 15 to display switching buttons B2 and B3 for switching the input format of the software keyboard, accompanying the virtual touch pads P2 and P3. Here, the switching button B2 includes a button B21 for instructing special character input and a button B22 for instructing numeric input. On the other hand, the switching button B3 is composed of a button B31 for instructing capital letter input and a button B32 for instructing small letter input.

  FIG. 11 shows an example in which the switching button B2 is displayed on the upper part of the virtual touch pad P2 and the switching button B3 is displayed on the upper part of the virtual touch pad P3. It is not limited to the example shown. In addition, the type of each button constituting the switching button is not limited to this illustrated example.

  By the way, in the case of this modification, the long press position of the display screen by the user exists in the left half screen and the right half screen. Therefore, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 executes the processes of steps S15 and S16 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, and sets the keys corresponding to the left and right detection positions as the initial position of the pointer.

  In the example of FIG. 11, the initial position of the pointer corresponding to the detected position on the left half screen (left hand) is the key “G”, and the initial position of the pointer corresponding to the detected position on the right half screen (right hand). Is the key “H”. In this case, in order to identify the pointer corresponding to the left or right touchpad area, it is preferable to change the color or shape of the highlighted key.

  In addition, the SWK operation accepting unit 23 performs the processing of steps S18 to S23 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 independently for each touch pad area, so that the touch operation in each touch pad area is performed on the software keyboard. This is associated with the key operation at.

  As a result, it is possible to achieve the same effects as in the above embodiment. In the case of this modification, the operation of the software keyboard via the touch pad area can be performed using both hands, so that the operation of the software keyboard can be performed more efficiently than in the above embodiment. it can.

  In addition, it is preferable that this modification is applied to the information processing apparatus 100 hold | gripped so that the display screen of the display part 15 may become horizontally long as shown in FIG. Therefore, the number of touchpad areas that can be set may be controlled in accordance with the display direction of images and characters displayed on the display unit 15.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the program relating to the character input process of the above embodiment can be provided as a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may be a computer-readable storage medium such as a magnetic disk, optical disk (CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, etc.), magneto-optical disk (MO, etc.), semiconductor memory, etc. For example, the storage format may be any form.

  The program relating to the character input process of the above embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network.

  The information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not particularly limited. For example, it can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a mobile phone having a touch panel function, a PHS, a PDA, a handheld PC, or a game machine. is there.

100 Information processing apparatus 11 Processor 12 ROM
13 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Memory | storage part 15 Display part 16 Input part 17 Bus 21 Display control part 211 SWK display control part 212 Touchpad area | region display control part 22 Touchpad area | region setting part 23 SWK operation reception part

Claims (10)

Detecting means for detecting a contact operation performed on the display screen;
Display control means for displaying a plurality of key images on the display screen;
Setting means for setting a predetermined area of the display screen other than the first area in which the plurality of key images are displayed as a second area in which an operation having the same content as an operation through the plurality of key images is possible;
Operation means for associating a contact operation in the second region detected by the detection means with an operation via the plurality of key images;
With
An information processing apparatus, wherein an initial position of a pointer on the plurality of key images is arranged at a predetermined key in accordance with a set position of the second area on the display screen. Detecting means for detecting a contact operation performed on the display screen;
Display control means for displaying a plurality of key images on the display screen;
Setting means for setting a predetermined area of the display screen other than the first area in which the plurality of key images are displayed as a second area in which an operation having the same content as an operation through the plurality of key images is possible;
Operation means for associating a contact operation in the second region detected by the detection means with an operation via the plurality of key images;
With
An information processing apparatus, wherein a predetermined key image of the plurality of key images or a character represented by the key image is highlighted in accordance with a setting position of the second area on the display screen. .   The setting means may include an area around a position where a predetermined contact operation is detected by the detection means in another area of the display screen other than the first area where the plurality of key images are displayed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is set to an area.   4. The information processing according to claim 3, wherein when the contact operation is detected at a plurality of positions by the detection unit, the setting unit sets the second region in a region around each position. 5. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays an image representing the second area in the second area. The operation means moves a pointer on the plurality of key images in a direction corresponding to a slide operation in the second area detected by the detection means,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit highlights a key image itself on which the pointer is arranged or a character represented by the key image. When the operation means detects a touch operation instructing an input in the second area in a state where the pointer is placed on a specific key image of the plurality of key images, the specific key image is displayed on the display. Notify the control means,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit displays the character represented by the specific key image notified from the operation unit on the display screen.   8. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein, when a contact operation instructing switching of an input format is detected by the detection unit, the display is switched to a key image for the instructed input format. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims. Detecting means for detecting a touch operation on the display screen;
Display means for displaying an image of a key on the display screen;
Control means for associating the detected touch operation with the key operation when a touch operation is detected in another area in the display screen outside the area where the image of the key is displayed;
With
An information processing apparatus in which a pointer is displayed at an initial position on the key determined according to a position where the contact operation is detected. Detecting means for detecting a touch operation on the display screen;
Display means for displaying a key image on the display screen;
An information processing apparatus in which at least a part of the key image is highlighted when a contact operation is detected in a region other than the region where the key image is displayed in the display screen.

Images