Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates the touch panel, including: a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user; and a driving circuit configured to vibrate the touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2007-264006 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Oct. 10, 2007, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a reproduction apparatus, a reproduction method and a program, and more particularly to a reproduction apparatus, a reproduction method and a program wherein reproduction of data is controlled in response to an operation of a touch panel by a user. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    When an editor edits images, it uses an editing apparatus to reproduce, for example, images of an object of editing and search for an image at an editing point while it observes images reproduced successively. 
         [0006]    Interfaces for controlling reproduction are provided on such an editing apparatus as described above, and one of such interfaces is a search bar displayed on a display apparatus on which a touch panel is provided as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-301736. In an editing apparatus in which the search bar is provided, reproduction is carried out at a reproduction speed and in a reproduction direction corresponding to the position of the search bar at which the user touches with the search bar using a finger of a hand thereof. 
         [0007]    Meanwhile, a touch panel has been proposed which can exert acoustic vibration which can be sensed as sound by the user and tactile vibration which stimulates the tactile sensation of the user when the user touches with the touch panel using a finger of a hand thereof as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-122501. A linear or circular operation element is displayed on a display apparatus on which the touch panel is provided. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Incidentally, in image editing for business purpose, it is demanded to edit images in an accuracy of a unit of a frame. Accordingly, frame adjustment in the proximity of an editing point is significant. However, where images indicate a small amount of motion, even if reproduced images are observed, changeover between frames cannot be discriminated readily, and it is difficult to carry out frame adjustment in the proximity of an editing point. 
         [0009]    Further, when an editing person carries out frame adjustment in the proximity of an editing point, the editing person determines, for example, a range of a time code for searching for the editing point and searches for the editing point in an accuracy of a unit of a frame while it observes images reproduced within the range. Accordingly, the user must search for the editing point while it confirms both of the reproduced image, for example, displayed on a display apparatus and the time code of the image. Therefore, where the display positions of the displayed image and the displayed time code of the image are spaced away from each other, it is necessary for the user to move its line of sight inconveniently. 
         [0010]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a reproduction apparatus, a reproduction method and a program wherein, where reproduction of data is controlled in response to an operation of a touch panel by a user, the user can search out desired data readily in an accuracy of a unit of a frame. 
         [0011]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates the touch panel, including a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, and a driving circuit configured to vibrate the touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced. 
         [0012]    The reproduction apparatus may be configured such that, where the speed of the reproduction by the reproduction circuit is not higher than a substantially normal speed, the vibration circuit vibrates the touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced, but where the speed of the reproduction is higher than the substantially normal speed, the vibration circuit vibrates the touch panel at predetermined intervals of time. 
         [0013]    In this instance, the reproduction apparatus may further include a determination circuit configured to determine a speed of the reproduction in response to an operation of the touch panel by the user, the reproduction circuit reproducing the data at the speed of the reproduction determined by the determination circuit. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the reproduction apparatus further includes a display section configured to display an image based on the data reproduced by the reproduction circuit. 
         [0015]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a reproduction method for a reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates the touch panel, including the steps of reproducing data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, and vibrating the touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced. 
         [0016]    According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute a process including the steps of reproducing data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of a touch panel by a user, and vibrating the touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced. 
         [0017]    In the reproduction apparatus, reproduction method and program, data are reproduced in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, and the touch panel is vibrated every time data of each frame are reproduced. 
         [0018]    With the reproduction apparatus, reproduction method and program, reproduction can be controlled. Further, where reproduction of data is controlled in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, the user can search out desired data readily in an accuracy of a unit of a frame. 
         [0019]    According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates the touch panel, including a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce data in a unit of a field in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, and a driving circuit configured to vibrate the touch panel every time the data of each field are reproduced. 
         [0020]    In the reproduction apparatus, data are reproduced in a unit of a field in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, and the touch panel is vibrated every time data of each field are reproduced. 
         [0021]    With the reproduction apparatus, reproduction can be controlled. Further, where reproduction of data is controlled in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, the user can search out desired data readily in an accuracy of a unit of a field. 
         [0022]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration of an editing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing an example of a screen image in an operation element region shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of the editing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the editing apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing an example of a screen image displayed in an image region shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating a vibration process carried out by a CPU of the editing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an example of a configuration of an editing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
         [0030]    A display apparatus  22  on which a touch panel  21  is laminated is provided at a central portion of an upper face of a housing  20  of an editing apparatus  10 . An image region  31  in which an image of an object of editing or the like is to be displayed is provided on the farther side in  FIG. 1  of the display apparatus  22 . Meanwhile, an operation element region  32  in which operation elements  41  to which functions relating to editing are allocated are provided (displayed) on the nearer side in  FIG. 1  of the display apparatus  22 . 
         [0031]    It is to be noted that details of display contents in the image region  31  and the operation element region  32  are hereinafter described with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 2 . 
         [0032]    A cover panel  23  for assisting an operation of an operation element  41  by a user is mounted in a region of the touch panel  21  which corresponds to the operation element region  32 . Holes  42  are provided in regions of the cover panel  23  which correspond to the operation elements  41  such that the size thereof gradually increases from the bottom face which contacts with the touch panel  21  to the upper face of the cover panel  23 . Consequently, the user can recognize the position of any operation element  41  through a feel at a finger of a hand thereof using its hole  42  as a lead. As a result, the user can carry out touch-typing. 
         [0033]    The cover panel  23  is formed from a transparent material such that the user can visually confirm characters and so forth displayed in the operation element region  32  through the cover panel  23  and the touch panel  21 . 
         [0034]    The user would carry out an operation for a desired one of the operation elements  41  displayed on the display apparatus  22  by touching with the touch panel  21  at a position corresponding to the operation element  41  using a finger of a hand thereof. The user would search for an editing point by carrying out an operation for the operation element  41  to cause, for example, material data which become a material of editing such as data of an image or sound to be reproduced in a unit of a frame to search for an editing point. 
         [0035]    At this time, the editing apparatus  10  causes the surface of the touch panel  21  to vibrate in a pulsed manner within a reproduction time period (for example, 1/30 second) of one frame or causes the surface of the touch panel  21  to vibrate in a pulsed manner at predetermined intervals within a period of the interval every time material data of each frame are reproduced in response to a reproduction speed. 
         [0036]    As a result, the user can recognize that reproduction is proceeding by sensing the vibration of the surface of the touch panel  21  through a finger of a hand thereof. 
         [0037]    Where the surface of the touch panel  21  vibrates in a pulsed manner every time material data of one frame are reproduced, even if the motion between images is small, the user can recognize changeover between frames readily and accurately by sensing the vibration of the surface of the touch panel  21  through a finger of a hand thereof. As a result, the user can search out desired material data readily in an accuracy of a unit of a frame. 
         [0038]    Since, with the editing apparatus  10 , the user can sense it by means of a finger of a hand or the like thereof that reproduction is proceeding or changeover between frames has occurred as described above, the editing apparatus  10  is suitable particularly where the user carries out touch-typing. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows an example of a display image of the operation element region  32  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an operation element  111  is displayed as a square having sides of  12  at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  formed in the cover panel  23  at a right upper portion of the operation element region  32 . 
         [0041]    It is to be noted that characters “SRC” representing an editing source (SOURCE) are displayed in the inside of the operation element  111 , and the operation element  111  is operated in order to issue an instruction relating to reproduction of material data of an editing source. The user can issue various instructions relating to reproduction of material data by operating operation elements  113  to  122  hereinafter described after it operates the operation element  111 . 
         [0042]    Meanwhile, another operation element  112  is displayed at a position of the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right side of the operation element  111 . 
         [0043]    It is to be noted that characters “DST” representing an editing destination (DESTINATION) are displayed in the inside of the operation element  112 , and the operation element  112  is operated in order to issue an instruction relating to reproduction of a result of editing which is a destination of editing. The user can issue various instructions relating to reproduction of a result of editing by operating the operation elements  113  to  122  hereinafter described. Further, characters “PLAYBACK CONTROL” representing an instruction for reproduction control which is a function of all of the operation elements  111  to  122 . 
         [0044]    Further, the operation element  113  is displayed in the form of a circle having a diameter of  12  at a position of the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a circular hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the left lower side of the operation element  111 . It is to be noted that a mark representative of rewinding (REWIND) is displayed in the inside of the operation element  113 , and the operation element  113  is operated in order to issue an instruction to carry out rewinding reproduction of material data or a result of editing. 
         [0045]    Also the other operation elements  114  to  139  are displayed at positions corresponding to holes  42  provided in the cover panel  23 . In particular, the operation element  114  is displayed in the form of a circle, in the inside of which a mark representative of stopping (STOP) is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a circular hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right upper side of the operation element  113 . The operation element  114  is operated in order to issue an instruction to stop reproduction of material data or a result of editing. 
         [0046]    The operation element  115  is displayed in the form of a circle, in the inside of which a mark representative of reproduction (PLAY) is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a circular hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right side of the operation element  114 . The operation element  115  is operated in order to issue an instruction to reproduce material data or a result of editing. The operation element  116  is displayed in the form of a circle, in the inside of which a mark representative of fast feeding is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a circular hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right lower side of the operation element  115 . The operation element  116  is operated in order to issue an instruction to carry out fast feeding reproduction of material data or a result of editing. 
         [0047]    The operation element  117  is displayed in the form of a circle at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a circular hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation elements  114  and  115 . The operation element  117  is slidably operated in a circumferential direction in order to issue an instruction to move the reproduction position of material data or a result of editing. For example, the user can issue an instruction to move the reproduction position rearwardly by slidably operating the inside of the operation element  117  in the clockwise direction along the circle. Further, the user can issue an instruction to move the reproduction forwardly by slidably operating the inside of the operation element  117  in the counterclockwise direction along the circumference. 
         [0048]    The operation element  118  is displayed in the form of a square, on which characters “JOG/SHTL” which represent a jog mode and a shuttle mode are indicated, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the left side of the operation element  117 . The operation element  118  is operated in order to issue an instruction to set the mode of the operation element  117  to the jog mode or the shuttle mode. It is to be noted that the jog mode is a mode in which the reproduction position is moved in response to movement of the operation position while the shuttle mode is a mode in which the reproduction speed is varied in response to movement of the operation position. 
         [0049]    It is to be noted that, in the following description, the operation element  117  is referred to as jog dial  117  and the operation element  118  is referred to as mode button  118  in order to facilitate distinction from the other operation elements. 
         [0050]    The operation element  119  is displayed in the form of a square, on which characters “PREV” which represent “PREVIOUS” are indicated, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the left side of the mode button  118 . The operation element  119  is operated in order to issue an instruction to move the reproduction position to a top position of an immediately preceding clip hereinafter described. It is to be noted that the clip represents material data obtained by one time of image pickup processing, that is, image pickup processing from a start of image pickup to an end of the image pickup. 
         [0051]    The operation element  120  is displayed in the form of a square, on which characters “NEXT” which represent the next is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right side of the operation element  119  and on the left side of the mode button  118 . The operation element  120  is operated in order to issue an instruction to move the reproduction position to a top position of an immediately succeeding clip. 
         [0052]    The operation element  121  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “−1” which represents an immediately preceding frame is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation element  119 . The operation element  121  is operated in order to issue an instruction to move the reproduction position to an immediately preceding frame. The operation element  122  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “+1” which represents an immediately succeeding frame is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation element  120 . The operation element  122  is operated in order to issue an instruction to move the reproduction position to an immediately succeeding frame. 
         [0053]    The operation element  123  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “IN” which represents an in-point as an editing point representative of a start position of editing is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the upper side of the operation element  119 . The operation element  123  is operated in order to issue an instruction to designate the current reproduction position as an in-point of sound. It is to be noted that characters “AUDIO” representing the audio are displayed on the left side of the operation element  123 . 
         [0054]    The operation element  124  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “OUT” which represents an out-point is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right side of the operation element  123 . The operation element  124  is operated in order to issue an instruction to designate the current reproduction position as an out-point of sound. 
         [0055]    The operation element  125  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “IN” which represents an in-point is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the upper side of the operation element  119  and on the lower side of the operation element  123 . The operation element  125  is operated in order to issue an instruction to designate the current reproduction position as an in-point of an image. It is to be noted that characters “VIDEO” representing the image are displayed on the left side of the operation element  125 . 
         [0056]    The operation element  126  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “OUT” which represents an out-point is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the upper side of the operation element  120  and on the lower side of the operation element  124 . The operation element  126  is operated in order to issue an instruction to designate the current reproduction position as an out-point of an image. 
         [0057]    The operation element  127  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “EDIT” which represents editing is displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right upper side of the operation element  123  and on the left upper side of the operation element  124 . The operation element  127  is operated in order to issue an instruction to insert a portion of the material data from the in-point to the out-point indicated by the operation elements  125  to  127  into the current reproduction position of a result of the editing. It is to be noted that characters “EDIT” representing an editing instruction which is a function of all of the operation elements  123  to  128  are displayed on the left side of the operation element  127 . 
         [0058]    The operation element  128  is displayed in the form of a square, on which characters “DELETE” which represent deletion or erasure are displayed, at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the left lower side of the operation element  123  and on the left upper side of the operation element  125 . The operation element  128  is operated in order to issue an instruction to erase data at an in-point and an out-point of a result of editing indicated by the operation elements  123  to  126 . 
         [0059]    The operation element  129  is displayed in the form of a square displayed at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  at a left upper portion of the operation element region  32 . The operation element  129  is operated in order to issue an instruction to add a zoom-in effect to an image of a result of editing displayed in the image region  31  ( FIG. 1 ). It is to be noted that “ZOOM IN” representative of a zoom-in effect is displayed on the lower side of the operation element  129 . 
         [0060]    The operation element  130  is displayed in the form of a square displayed at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right side of the operation element  129 . The operation element  130  is operated in order to issue an instruction to add a zoom-out effect to an image of a result of editing displayed in the image region  31 . It is to be noted that “ZOOM OUT” representative of a zoom-out effect is displayed on the lower side of the operation element  130 . It is to be noted that characters “VIDEO EFFECT” representing a video effect adding instruction which is a function of all of the operation elements  129  to  134  are displayed on the upper side of the operation elements  129  and  130 . 
         [0061]    The operation element  131  is displayed in the form of a square displayed at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation element  129 . The operation element  131  is operated in order to issue an instruction to add a fade-in effect to an image of a result of editing displayed in the image region  31 . It is to be noted that “FADE IN” representative of a fade-in effect is displayed on the lower side of the operation element  131 . 
         [0062]    The operation element  132  is displayed in the form of a square displayed at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation element  130 . The operation element  132  is operated in order to issue an instruction to add a fade-out effect to an image of a result of editing displayed in the image region  31 . It is to be noted that “FADE OUT” representative of a fade-out effect is displayed on the lower side of the operation element  132 . 
         [0063]    The operation element  133  is displayed in the form of a square displayed at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation element  131 . The operation element  133  is operated in order to issue an instruction to add a dissolve effect to an image of a result of editing displayed in the image region  31 . It is to be noted that “DISSOLVE” representative of a dissolve effect is displayed on the lower side of the operation element  133 . 
         [0064]    The operation element  134  is displayed in the form of a square displayed at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation element  132 . The operation element  134  is operated in order to issue an instruction to add a wipe effect to an image of a result of editing displayed in the image region  31 . It is to be noted that “WIPE” representative of a wipe effect is displayed on the lower side of the operation element  134 . 
         [0065]    The operation element  135  is displayed in the form of a rectangle at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right side of the operation elements  130  and  132 . The operation element  135  is slidably operated in a longitudinal direction in order to issue an instruction to change the sound volume of sound of the channel  1 . Meanwhile, the operation element  136  is displayed in the form of a rectangle at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right side of the operation element  135 . The operation element  136  is slidably operated in a longitudinal direction in order to issue an instruction to change the sound volume of sound of the channel  2 . 
         [0066]    When the user wants to increase the sound volume of a desired channel, it would slidably operate the inside of the operation element  135  or  136  corresponding to the channel in the upward direction by an amount corresponding to the amount of change of the sound volume by means of a finger of a hand thereof or the like. On the other hand, when the user wants to decrease the sound volume of a desired channel, it would slidably operate the inside of the operation element  135  or  136  corresponding to the channel in the downward direction by an amount corresponding to the amount of change of the sound volume by means of a finger of a hand thereof or the like. It is to be noted that characters “AUDIO MIXER” representative of an instruction to adjust the sound volume which is a function of the operation elements  135  and  136  are displayed on the upper side of the operation elements  135  and  136 . 
         [0067]    The operation element  137  is displayed in the form of a rectangle displayed at a position in the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a rectangular hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the right side of the operation element  136 . The operation element  137  is slidably operated in a longitudinal direction thereof in order to issue an instruction to change the master volume. The user can operate the operation element  137  similarly to the operation element  135  or  136 . It is to be noted that characters “MASTER VOLUME” representative of an instruction to change the master volume which is a function of the operation element  137  are displayed on the upper side of the operation element  137 . 
         [0068]    The operation element  138  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “CH-1” which represents the channel  1  is displayed, at a position in the inside of the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation element  135 . The operation element  138  is operated in order to issue an instruction to select whether or not sound data of the channel  1  should be included in a result of editing. 
         [0069]    The operation element  139  is displayed in the form of a square, on which “CH-2” which represents the channel  2  is displayed, at a position in the inside of the operation element region  32  which corresponds to a square hole  42  provided in the cover panel  23  on the lower side of the operation element  136 . The operation element  139  is operated in order to issue an instruction to select whether or not sound data of the channel  2  should be included in a result of editing. Characters “AUDIO SELECT” representative of an instruction to select sound which is a function of all of the operation elements  138  and  139  are displayed on the upper side of the operation elements  138  and  139 . 
         [0070]    Since the operation elements  111  to  139  shown in  FIG. 2  are displayed in corresponding shapes at positions corresponding to the holes  42  of the cover panel  23  mounted on the touch panel  21  as described above, the user can touch with a position corresponding to any of the displayed positions of the operation elements  111  to  139  of the touch panel  21  using a finger of a hand or the like to input various instructions relating to editing. 
         [0071]    Further, since the cover panel  23  is formed from a transparent material as described hereinabove, the user can visually observe, through the cover panel  23 , the characters representative of the functions of the operation elements  111  to  139  displayed at positions other than the positions corresponding to the holes  42  in the proximity of the operation elements  111  to  139 . As a result, the user can recognize the functions of the operation elements  111  to  139  readily. 
         [0072]      FIG. 3  shows an example of a configuration of the editing apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0073]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  151  executes various processes in accordance with a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory)  152  or a program recorded in a recording block  160  hereinafter described. Into a RAM (Random Access Memory)  153 , programs to be executed by the CPU  151 , data and so forth are suitably stored. The CPU  151 , ROM  152  and RAM  153  are connected to each other by a bus  154 . It is to be noted that the CPU  151 , ROM  152  and RAM  153  may otherwise be formed from a microcomputer. 
         [0074]    An input/output interface  155  is connected to the CPU  151  by the bus  154 . To the input/output interface  155 , an inputting block  156  including a touch panel section  171  which in turn includes the touch panel  21  shown in  FIG. 1  and so froth, a driving block  157  for vibrating the surface of the touch panel  21  in a pulsed manner and an outputting block  158  including the display apparatus  22  and so forth are connected. 
         [0075]    The touch panel section  171  detects a pressure applied to the touch panel  21  by a touch therewith of a finger of a hand of the user and inputs operation position information representative of the position at which the pressure is detected to the CPU  151 . The CPU  151  executes various processes, for example, in response to an input from the inputting block  156  and outputs a result of processes to the outputting block  158 . 
         [0076]    For example, the CPU  151  carries out an editing process of non-linearly editing material data recorded in a unit of a frame in the recording block  160  in response to operation position information inputted thereto from the touch panel section  171 . 
         [0077]    In particular, the CPU  151  controls a drive  159  in response to operation position information inputted from the touch panel section  171  to reproduce material data in a unit of a frame recorded in the recording block  160  in a reproduction direction and at a reproduction speed corresponding to an operation of the jog dial  117  ( FIG. 2 ). Then, the CPU  151  supplies image data from within the reproduced material data to the display apparatus  22  so that an image based on the image data is displayed on the display apparatus  22 . 
         [0078]    Further, the CPU  151  describes a position designated as an editing point by an operation of the operation element  123  or  125  or the operation element  124  or  126  in response to operation position information inputted from the touch panel section  171  into an edit list representative of information relating to a result of editing of material data. Then, the CPU  151  controls the drive  159  to record the edit list into the recording block  160 . 
         [0079]    Furthermore, the CPU  151  reproduces material data recorded in the recording block  160  in accordance with the edit list in response to operation position information inputted thereto from the touch panel section  171  so that an image of a result of editing is displayed on the display apparatus  22  of the outputting block  158 . 
         [0080]    Further, the CPU  151  generates a frame changeover signal representative of a changeover between frames every time the frame of material data reproduced from the recording block  160  changes over. The CPU  151  supplies, during reproduction of material data at a reproduction speed substantially not higher than a normal speed in response to an operation of the jog dial  117 , a driving signal for vibrating the surface of the touch panel  21  in a pulsed manner within a reproduction time period of one frame to the driving block  157 . Consequently, every time material data of each frame are reproduced, the surface of the touch panel  21  vibrates in a pulsed manner. 
         [0081]    The drive  159  connected to the input/output interface  155  records material data in a unit of a clip and an edit list described in each editing process as a file into the recording block  160 , which may be formed from a hard disk, under the control of the CPU  151 . Further, the drive  159  records a program to be executed by the CPU  151  and so forth into the recording block  160 . Furthermore, the drive  159  reproduces material data recorded in the recording block  160  in a unit of a frame and supplies the reproduced material data to the CPU  151  under the control of the CPU  151 . 
         [0082]    A communication block  161  communicates with an external apparatus through a network such as the Internet or a local area network. For example, the communication block  161  acquires material data from an external apparatus through the network and supplies the acquired material data to the CPU  151 . The material data are recorded, for example, into the recording block  160  under the control of the CPU  151 . 
         [0083]    A drive  162  connected to the input/output interface  155  drives, when a removable medium  163  such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk or a semiconductor memory is loaded therein, the removable medium  163  to acquire a program, data or the like recorded in the removable medium  163 . The acquired program or data are transferred to and recorded into the recording block  160  as occasion demands. It is to be noted that a program may otherwise be acquired through the communication block  161  and recorded into the recording block  160 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 4  shows an example of a functional configuration of the editing apparatus  10  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the touch panel section  171  is formed from the touch panel  21  and a pressure detection portion  181 . The pressure detection portion  181  detects a pressure applied to the touch panel  21  by a touch therewith of a finger of a hand of the user and inputs operation position information to the CPU  151 . 
         [0086]    The CPU  151  includes a control signal generation portion  191 , a drive control portion  192 , an output control portion  193  and a driving signal generation portion  194 . 
         [0087]    The control signal generation portion  191  carries out, based on operation position information supplied thereto from the pressure detection portion  181  of the touch panel section  171 , a process corresponding to an operation element  41  positioned at a position represented by the operation position information. 
         [0088]    For example, the control signal generation portion  191  sets the mode of the jog dial  117  to the jog mode or the shuttle mode based on the operation position information representative of the position of the mode button  118  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0089]    Further, the control signal generation portion  191  determines, based on the operation position information representative of the position in the jog dial  117  and the mode of the jog dial  117 , a reproduction direction and a reproduction speed corresponding to the position represented by the operation position information. Then, the control signal generation portion  191  generates a reproduction control signal which is a control signal for carrying out reproduction in the reproduction direction and at the reproduction speed, and supplies the reproduction control signal to the drive control portion  192 . Further, the control signal generation portion  191  generates a vibration control signal which is a control signal representative of a type of vibration of the touch panel  21  and supplies the vibration control signal to the driving signal generation portion  194 . 
         [0090]    The drive control portion  192  controls the drive  159  based on a reproduction control signal supplied thereto from the control signal generation portion  191  to reproduce material data recorded in the recording block  160  in a unit of a frame in the reproduction direction and at the reproduction speed corresponding to the reproduction control signal. The material data in a unit of a frame reproduced from the recording block  160  by the drive  159  are supplied to the output control portion  193 . 
         [0091]    The output control portion  193  supplies image data from within the material data in a unit of a frame supplied thereto from the drive  159  to the display apparatus  22  so that an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the display apparatus  22 . Further, the output control portion  193  generates a frame changeover signal every time the frame of material data supplied thereto from the drive  159  changes over, and supplies the frame changeover signal to the driving signal generation portion  194 . 
         [0092]    The driving signal generation portion  194  controls the driving block  157  to vibrate the surface of the touch panel  21  in a pulsed manner based on a vibration control signal supplied thereto from the control signal generation portion  191  and a frame changeover signal supplied thereto from the output control portion  193 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 5  shows an example of a screen image displayed on the image region  31  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0094]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the image region  31  includes image display regions  201  and  202 , time code display regions  203  and  204 , and a time line display region  205 . 
         [0095]    In the image display region  201 , an image corresponding to material data is displayed when a reproduction instruction of the material data is issued. In the image display region  202 , an image corresponding to a result of editing is displayed when a reproduction instruction of the result of editing is issued. 
         [0096]    In the time code display region  203 , an FTC (File Time Code) of the image displayed in the image display region  201  is displayed at a left portion, and an FTC of a terminal end of a clip corresponding to the image is disposed at a right portion. It is to be noted that the FTC is relative position information allocated to each frame in order beginning with a top frame of each file with the number of the top frame set to “0.” 
         [0097]    Since an FTC of an image of material data during reproduction is displayed in the time code display region  203  of the editing apparatus  10  in such a manner as described above, when the user carries out frame adjustment in the proximity of an editing point, it can recognize a search range which is a range of the FTC for searching for an editing point. 
         [0098]    Thus, the user would calculate the number of times of vibration in a pulsed manner corresponding to the recognized search range. As a result, where the surface of the touch panel  21  vibrates in a pulsed manner every time one frame is reproduced, the user can sense the vibration with a finger of a hand thereof or the like placed on the touch panel  21  to search for an editing point in the search range while observing an image displayed in the image display region  201  based on the calculated number of times of vibration in a pulsed manner. 
         [0099]    For example, if the user recognizes the periods of time of 0.5 seconds (15 frames) across the FTC of an image currently displayed on the image display region  201  as a search range, the user would operate the jog dial  117  to carry out forward reproduction and backward reproduction and search for an editing point while the number of times of vibration in a pulsed manner of the touch panel  21  is within 15 during each reproduction while observing an image displayed in the image display region  201 . By this, the user can search out an editing point in the search range readily. 
         [0100]    In the time code display region  204 , an FTC of an image displayed in the image display region  202  when a result of editing is determined as one file is displayed in the left portion. Meanwhile, an FTC at a terminal end when a result of editing corresponding to an image displayed in the image display region  202  is determined as one file is displayed in the right portion of the image display region  202 . 
         [0101]    In the time line display region  205 , an image line region  211  for displaying information of a time series of image data from among a result of editing corresponding to an image displayed in the image display region  202 , a sound line region  212  for displaying information of a time series of sound data from within the result of editing, and a pointer  213  are displayed. 
         [0102]    In the image line region  211 , characters “Video” representative of an image are displayed at a left portion, and an image line  211 A is disposed at a right portion. The image line  211 A has a quadrangular shape whose axis of abscissa indicates a range from the top to the tail of FTCs where a result of editing is determined as one file, and is partitioned at positions corresponding to FTCs at the top positions of a result of editing in a unit of a clip. 
         [0103]    It is to be noted that, in the quadrangles formed by partitioning the image line  211 A at positions corresponding to the top positions of a result of editing in a unit of a clip, thumbnail images corresponding to the image data in the result of editing in a unit of a clip may be displayed. 
         [0104]    In the sound line region  212 , characters “Audio” representative of sound are displayed at a left portion, and a sound line  212 A is displayed at a right portion. The sound line  212 A has a quadrangular shape whose axis of abscissa indicates a range from the top to the tail of FTCs where a result of editing is determined as one file, and is divided in a vertical direction into a number of portions corresponding to a number of channels of sound data which can be outputted as a result of editing. In the example of  FIG. 5 , the number of channels of sound data which can be outputted as a result of editing is two, and the sound line  212 A is divided into two portions in the vertical direction. In the two divisional portions of the quadrangle, levels of signals of sound of corresponding channels are displayed. 
         [0105]    The pointer  213  represents the position of an image displayed on the image display region  202  in a result of editing. The pointer  213  is disposed at a position corresponding to an FTC of an image displayed in the image display region  202  in the image line region  211  and the sound line region  212 . 
         [0106]    Now, a vibration process by the CPU  151  of vibrating the surface of the touch panel  21  in a pulsed manner is described with reference to  FIG. 6 . This vibration process is started, for example, when operation position information is inputted from the pressure detection portion  181 . 
         [0107]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , first at step S 11 , the control signal generation portion  191  decides based on the operation position information supplied thereto from the pressure detection portion  181  whether or not an operation for the mode button  118  is carried out by the user. If it is decided at step S 11  that an operation for the mode button  118  is carried out, then the control signal generation portion  191  changes over the mode of the jog dial  117  from one to the other of the jog mode and the shuttle mode at step S 12 . Thereafter, the processing advances to step S 13 . 
         [0108]    On the other hand, if it is decided at step S 11  that an operation for the mode button  118  is not carried out, then the processing advances to step S 13 . 
         [0109]    At step S 13 , the control signal generation portion  191  decides based on the operation position information supplied thereto from the pressure detection portion  181  whether or not an operation for the jog dial  117  is carried out by the user. If it is decided at step S 13  that an operation for the jog dial  117  is not carried out, then the processing is ended. 
         [0110]    On the other hand, if it is decided at step S 13  that an operation for the jog dial  117  is carried out, then the control signal generation portion  191  decides a reproduction direction and a reproduction speed based on the mode of the jog dial  117  and the operation position information at step S 14 . Then, the control signal generation portion  191  generates a reproduction control signal for carrying out reproduction in the reproduction direction and at the reproduction speed and supplies the generated reproduction control signal to the drive control portion  192 . 
         [0111]    At step S 15 , the drive control portion  192  controls the drive  159  based on the reproduction control signal supplied thereto from the control signal generation portion  191  to reproduce material data recorded in the recording block  160  in a unit of a frame in the reproduction direction and at the reproduction speed corresponding to the reproduction control signal. 
         [0112]    At step S 16 , the control signal generation portion  191  decides whether or not the reproduction speed determined at step S 14  is not higher than a substantially normal speed. If it is decided at step S 16  that the reproduction speed is not higher than the substantially normal speed, then the control signal generation portion  191  supplies, at step S 17 , a vibration control signal representative of vibration in response to a frame changeover signal as a type of vibration to the driving signal generation portion  194 . 
         [0113]    At step S 18 , the driving signal generation portion  194  controls the driving block  157  in response to a frame changeover signal supplied thereto from the output control portion  193  to vibrate the surface of the touch panel  21  in a pulsed manner, thereby ending the processing. 
         [0114]    On the other hand, if it is not decided at step S 16  that the reproduction speed is not higher than the substantially normal speed, that is, if the reproduction is higher than the substantially normal speed, then the control signal generation portion  191  supplies, at step S 19 , a vibration control signal representative of predetermined intermittent vibration as a type of vibration to the driving signal generation portion  194 . 
         [0115]    At step S 20 , the driving signal generation portion  194  controls the driving block  157  to vibrate the surface of the touch panel  21  in a pulsed manner at generation intervals of the frame changeover signal when the reproduction speed is the substantially normal speed, thereby ending the processing. 
         [0116]    It is to be noted that, while, in the foregoing description, material data are recorded in a unit of a frame, the material data may otherwise be recorded in a unit of a field. In this instance, the output control portion  193  generates a field changeover signal representative of changeover of a field every time the field of material data reproduced from the recording block  160  changes over, and supplies the generated field changeover signal to the driving signal generation portion  194 . As a result, during reproduction at a reproduction speed not higher than the normal speed, every time material data of each field are reproduced, the surface of the touch panel  21  is vibrated in a pulsed manner within a reproduction time period (for example, 1/60 second) of one field. 
         [0117]    Meanwhile, the driving block  157  may vibrate the surface of the entire touch panel  21  or may vibrate only a region of the surface of the touch panel  21  which corresponds to a region in which the jog dial  117  is displayed. 
         [0118]    Further, the present invention can be applied not only to an editing apparatus for carrying out nonlinear editing apparatus but also other reproduction apparatus which reproduce data in a unit of a frame or in a unit of a field. 
         [0119]    It is to be noted that, in the present specification, the steps which describe the program recorded in a program recording medium may be but need not necessarily be processed in a time series in the order as described, and include processes which are executed in parallel or individually without being processed in a time series. 
         [0120]    While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.