Method for controlling an electric device, in particular a portable electric device, in particular that is configured as an intelligent telephone device or personal digital assistant, by means of at least one straight input gesture and at least one irregular input gesture, wherein each input gesture (21, 22) is allocated a respective function of the electric device, wherein the electric device comprises a touch sensitive surface, in particular a touch screen, for inputting the input gestures (21, 22) that are performed using one or multiple fingers of a user, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - ascertaining an initiation of an input gesture (21, 22) in a first method step, wherein the procedure of initiating the input gesture (21, 22) comprises - detecting that the touch sensitive surface is initially touched at a fourth point in time by means of at least one finger of a user, - detecting that the at least one finger of a user is removed from the touch sensitive surface at a fifth point in time and - detecting that the touch sensitive surface is again touched at a sixth point in time by means of the at least one finger of a user and detecting a movement of the finger of a user on the touch sensitive surface. - detecting in a second method step - an irregular input gesture for the case that the time difference between the sixth point in time and the fourth point in time is smaller than a predetermined time limit value, and - a straight input gesture for the case that the time difference between the sixth point in time and the fourth point in time is greater than or equal to the predetermined time limit value, - performing in a third method step by means of the electric device the respective function that is linked to the input gesture (21, 22) that is detected. - ascertaining an initiation of an input gesture (21, 22) in a first method step, wherein the procedure of initiating the input gesture (21, 22) comprises - detecting that the touch sensitive surface is initially touched at a fourth point in time by means of at least one finger of a user, - detecting that the at least one finger of a user is removed from the touch sensitive surface at a fifth point in time and - detecting that the touch sensitive surface is again touched at a sixth point in time by means of the at least one finger of a user and detecting a movement of the finger of a user on the touch sensitive surface. - detecting that the touch sensitive surface is initially touched at a fourth point in time by means of at least one finger of a user, - detecting that the at least one finger of a user is removed from the touch sensitive surface at a fifth point in time and - detecting that the touch sensitive surface is again touched at a sixth point in time by means of the at least one finger of a user and detecting a movement of the finger of a user on the touch sensitive surface. - detecting in a second method step - an irregular input gesture for the case that the time difference between the sixth point in time and the fourth point in time is smaller than a predetermined time limit value, and - a straight input gesture for the case that the time difference between the sixth point in time and the fourth point in time is greater than or equal to the predetermined time limit value, - an irregular input gesture for the case that the time difference between the sixth point in time and the fourth point in time is smaller than a predetermined time limit value, and - a straight input gesture for the case that the time difference between the sixth point in time and the fourth point in time is greater than or equal to the predetermined time limit value, - performing in a third method step by means of the electric device the respective function that is linked to the input gesture (21, 22) that is detected.