Operator control apparatus, in particular in a vehicle, having - an operator control element (1, 12), in the case of which a touch-sensitive surface is produced, and - a control apparatus coupled to the operator control element (1, 12), so that data pertaining to touches of the touch-sensitive surface are transmittable to the control apparatus, characterized in that - two separate areas (5-1, 5-2) are produced within the touch-sensitive surface, and the two separate areas (5-1, 5-2) have an inscription box arranged between them that is used to display the value of a parameter, and - the control apparatus is designed such that a parameter is altered incrementally by one unit if a tap gesture or swipe gesture has been detected, wherein the parameter is lowered in the event of a detected tap gesture if a first of the two separate areas has been touched, and the parameter is raised if the second of the two separate areas has been touched, and the same parameter is raised in the event of a detected swipe gesture if the swipe gesture has been carried out in a direction from the first to the second of the separate areas, and the parameter is lowered if the swipe gesture has been carried out in the opposite direction, and the swipe gesture is distinguished from the tap gesture in that a swipe gesture involves at least sections of the touch-sensitive surface being touched in a region outside the two separate areas (5-1, 5-2), and the inscription box is actuated such that the altered parameter is displayed. - an operator control element (1, 12), in the case of which a touch-sensitive surface is produced, and - a control apparatus coupled to the operator control element (1, 12), so that data pertaining to touches of the touch-sensitive surface are transmittable to the control apparatus, characterized in that - two separate areas (5-1, 5-2) are produced within the touch-sensitive surface, and the two separate areas (5-1, 5-2) have an inscription box arranged between them that is used to display the value of a parameter, and - the control apparatus is designed such that a parameter is altered incrementally by one unit if a tap gesture or swipe gesture has been detected, wherein the parameter is lowered in the event of a detected tap gesture if a first of the two separate areas has been touched, and the parameter is raised if the second of the two separate areas has been touched, and the same parameter is raised in the event of a detected swipe gesture if the swipe gesture has been carried out in a direction from the first to the second of the separate areas, and the parameter is lowered if the swipe gesture has been carried out in the opposite direction, and the swipe gesture is distinguished from the tap gesture in that a swipe gesture involves at least sections of the touch-sensitive surface being touched in a region outside the two separate areas (5-1, 5-2), and the inscription box is actuated such that the altered parameter is displayed. a parameter is altered incrementally by one unit if a tap gesture or swipe gesture has been detected, wherein the parameter is lowered in the event of a detected tap gesture if a first of the two separate areas has been touched, and the parameter is raised if the second of the two separate areas has been touched, and the same parameter is raised in the event of a detected swipe gesture if the swipe gesture has been carried out in a direction from the first to the second of the separate areas, and the parameter is lowered if the swipe gesture has been carried out in the opposite direction, and the swipe gesture is distinguished from the tap gesture in that a swipe gesture involves at least sections of the touch-sensitive surface being touched in a region outside the two separate areas (5-1, 5-2), and the inscription box is actuated such that the altered parameter is displayed.