Patent ID: 8243042
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An operation device comprising: a touch panel on which at least one operation button is displayed; a press position detection unit detecting a press position when a user presses the touch panel; a button operation detection unit determining whether an operation is applied to the operation button based on the press position; a button operation appropriateness determination unit determining whether a button operation by the user is appropriate; and a button operation facilitating unit facilitating subsequent button operations by the user when it is determined by the button operation appropriateness determination unit that the button operation by the user is inappropriate; wherein the button operation detection unit comprises an operation counting unit which counts the number of repetitions of press operations applied to a first operation button which is one of the operation buttons and canceling operations canceling the press operations applied to the first operation button; the button operation appropriateness determination unit determines that the button operation by the user is inappropriate when the number of repetitions counted by the operation counting unit reaches a predetermined number of repetitions; and the button operation facilitating unit displays, when it is determined by the button operation appropriateness determination unit that the button operation by the user is inappropriate, an auxiliary image including a third operation button which indicates an operation identical to that of the first operation button, and a fourth operation button which indicates an operation identical to that of at least one second operation button which is disposed next to the first operation button.