Patent ID: 8228412

Claim:
An information display apparatus comprising: an input device configured to input user operation information; a touch sensor configured to detect the state of the input device in terms of whether the input device is touched by a user; a display configured to display information; and a control unit configured to receive user operation information from the input device and sensor detection information from the touch sensor, and control displaying of the information on the display in accordance with the received user operation information and the sensor detection information, the control unit controlling the displaying of the information such that if the touch information indicating that the input device is touched by the user is received from the touch sensor, the control unit displays first information that includes a name associated with the input device on the display, and if the input device is then maintained in the touched state over a period equal to or greater than a predetermined maximum display period assigned to the first information, the control unit switches the information displayed on the display into information including at least second information that includes at least operation information, function information, or setting information associated with the input device.