Patent ID: 8531421

Claim:
An operation apparatus comprising: a detection unit for detecting a plurality of designated positions which are designated by touching a touch panel with fingers; a stationary time measurement unit for measuring a duration of time during which the plurality of designated positions detected by the detection unit remain stationary; a determination unit for determining whether the duration of time during which the plurality of designated positions remain stationary, which is measured by the stationary time measurement unit, is not shorter than a predetermined duration of time; and a designation interpreting unit for interpreting the designation as a command for designating an area of characters enclosed by the plurality of designated positions when the determination unit determines that the stationary time of the plurality of designated positions, measured by the stationary time measurement unit, is not shorter than the predetermined duration of time and for interpreting the designation as a command for an expansion operation based on the plurality of designated positions when the determination unit determines that the stationary time of the plurality of designated positions, measured by the stationary time measurement unit, is shorter than the predetermined duration of time.