A method for operating a display and actuation device, wherein the method comprises the following steps performed by a control device of the display and actuation device: - presetting a graphic configuration of an actuation element to be displayed by the display and actuation device, - based on the preset graphic configuration: ascertaining each at least one light wave parameter to each one light wave of a group of light waves, wherein each of the light wave parameters describes a frequency, an amplitude or a wavelength of the respective light wave, and wherein an entirety of the light wave parameters describes an interference pattern, which describes an at least partial superposition of the light waves for generating a picture of the actuation element, - generating an interference pattern signal, which describes the entirety of the ascertained light wave parameters, wherein the generated interference pattern signal describes a configuration of a three-dimensional actuation element as the actuation element, and - transferring the generated interference pattern signal to an interference output device of the display and actuation device (10, S4), the method further comprising the step performed by the interference output device: - depending on the transferred interference pattern signal: generating a light wave interference, and thereby - outputting a real image of the actuation element to be displayed, wherein the method comprises the following steps performed by the control device: - providing an actuation signal, which describes an actuation gesture of a user, from a gesture recognition device, - based on the provided actuation signal: determining a pose and/or position change, described by the actuation gesture, of the real image of the actuation element (26, S14), and - depending on the described pose and/or position change: adapting at least one light wave parameter for changing the interference pattern, characterized in that the actuation element displays a location, at which a body part of the user abuts on the actuation element. - presetting a graphic configuration of an actuation element to be displayed by the display and actuation device, - based on the preset graphic configuration: ascertaining each at least one light wave parameter to each one light wave of a group of light waves, wherein each of the light wave parameters describes a frequency, an amplitude or a wavelength of the respective light wave, and wherein an entirety of the light wave parameters describes an interference pattern, which describes an at least partial superposition of the light waves for generating a picture of the actuation element, - generating an interference pattern signal, which describes the entirety of the ascertained light wave parameters, wherein the generated interference pattern signal describes a configuration of a three-dimensional actuation element as the actuation element, and - transferring the generated interference pattern signal to an interference output device of the display and actuation device (10, S4), - depending on the transferred interference pattern signal: generating a light wave interference, and thereby - outputting a real image of the actuation element to be displayed, wherein the method comprises the following steps performed by the control device: - providing an actuation signal, which describes an actuation gesture of a user, from a gesture recognition device, - based on the provided actuation signal: determining a pose and/or position change, described by the actuation gesture, of the real image of the actuation element (26, S14), and - depending on the described pose and/or position change: adapting at least one light wave parameter for changing the interference pattern, characterized in that the actuation element displays a location, at which a body part of the user abuts on the actuation element.