An operator control device in the driver's area of a motor vehicle, comprising: a screen which is designed to display first information , and to display in an information area second information which is dependent on the first information ; an input unit which is designed to determine a multiplicity of movement directions , wherein the operator control unit comprises an operator control element which can be moved manually in each of the multiplicity of movement directions ; and a controller which is connected to the screen and to the input unit and is designed to display, in a closed position of the information area , the first information and part of the information area without the second information on the screen , wherein in the closed position the information area is represented at least by one bar on the screen , and in the closed position the bar is at a distance from the edge of the screen, and in an open position of the information area to display at least the information area with the second information on the screen , wherein a transition from the closed position into the open position is brought about by inputting a movement direction of the movement directions , wherein the movement direction which has been input corresponds to an edge position or corner position of the bar in the closed position, wherein the controller is designed to move, at the transition from the closed position into the open position, at least the bar in an oscillating manner about its position of the closed position with temporary reduction in the distance from the edge of the screen, and after the oscillating movement to move the bar and the information area to the centre of the screen counter to the movement direction which has been input, and a transition from the open position into the closed position is brought about by inputting the same movement direction . a screen which is designed to display first information , and to display in an information area second information which is dependent on the first information ; an input unit which is designed to determine a multiplicity of movement directions , wherein the operator control unit comprises an operator control element which can be moved manually in each of the multiplicity of movement directions ; and a controller which is connected to the screen and to the input unit and is designed to display, in a closed position of the information area , the first information and part of the information area without the second information on the screen , wherein in the closed position the information area is represented at least by one bar on the screen , and in the closed position the bar is at a distance from the edge of the screen, and in an open position of the information area to display at least the information area with the second information on the screen , wherein a transition from the closed position into the open position is brought about by inputting a movement direction of the movement directions , wherein the movement direction which has been input corresponds to an edge position or corner position of the bar in the closed position, wherein the controller is designed to move, at the transition from the closed position into the open position, at least the bar in an oscillating manner about its position of the closed position with temporary reduction in the distance from the edge of the screen, and after the oscillating movement to move the bar and the information area to the centre of the screen counter to the movement direction which has been input, and a transition from the open position into the closed position is brought about by inputting the same movement direction . <EOS>