Input device, wearable terminal, mobile terminal, method of controlling input device, and control program for controlling operation of input device

ample 1 for Terminal Device 10

[0065]Operation examples for the terminal device 10 in accordance with Embodiment 1 will be described in reference to FIG. 5. Portions (a) and (b) of FIG. 5 show an example of basic touch operations on an edge of the screen or side faces of the casing of the terminal device 10. The user can select a menu item from a menu displayed on a peripheral part of the screen or operate the menu by a combination of these basic touch operations.

[0066]Portions (a) and (b) of FIG. 5 show an operation example in which the user can select one of items for operation from a displayed menu. In an example of selecting an item from a main menu displayed in the area A1 shown in portion (a) of FIG. 5, if the user selects a main menu item by, for example, a “single tapping (brief touch and release)” or a “press and hold” in the contact position P1 with the thumb, an associated submenu is displayed in the area A2 as shown in portion (b) of FIG. 5 by using the position opposite fro

ample 2 for Terminal Device 10

[0073]Operation examples for the terminal device 10 in accordance with Embodiment 2 will be described in reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG. 6 shows an operation example of a music player application. Portion (a) of FIG. 6 shows the terminal device 10 displaying a main menu near the first touch position. Portion (a) of FIG. 6 shows a mode in which, for example, “Play Menu,”“Select Song,” and “Volume” icons are displayed as part of a main menu near the lower left side of the display unit 3 on the paper showing the figure and when touched, respectively invoke associated submenus across from the main menu.

[0074]Portion (b) of FIG. 6 shows the terminal device 10 either displaying the “Play Menu” or responding to the user's subsequent actions. The “Play Menu” includes “Pause” and “Fast Forward / Rewind” icons (buttons or menu items). To fast forward / rewind, the user slides the finger starting at the first touch position and moving in the directions indicated by a

ample 3 for Terminal Device 10

[0084]Operation examples for the terminal device 10 in accordance with Embodiment 3 will be described in reference to FIGS. 9 to 13. FIG. 9 shows an operation example of an email or other text (Japanese language) input application. Portion (a) of FIG. 9 shows the terminal device 10 displaying an initial screen (vowel keys). Portion (b) of FIG. 9 shows the terminal device 10 displaying a text input screen or responding to the user's subsequent actions. Portion (c) of FIG. 9 shows the terminal device 10 displaying a list of addresses or responding to the user's subsequent actions.

[0085]Portions (a) and (b) of FIG. 9 show an exemplary mode of text input operation. Vowels are displayed in the first touch position (edge; contact position P1 in the area A1). If the user selects a character, for example “”, by touching on the character, candidate characters (candidate consonants or menu items) belonging to the column starting with “” are displayed in the area A2