INPUT DEVICE, INPUT ASSISTANCE METHOD AND PROGRAM

1 . An input device comprising:

a display unit which displays data on a display screen;

a touch panel which detects proximity of a finger to the display screen;

a proximity coordinates extraction unit which extracts proximity coordinates of the proximity-detected finger with respect to the display screen;

a display position calculation unit which calculates a position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in a vertical direction based on the extracted proximity coordinates; and

a display control unit which displays an indicator indicating an item to become a touch manipulation target at the calculated position on the display screen.

2 . The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a proximity time measuring unit which measures a continuation time of a proximity state of the finger based on the detection of proximity of the finger to the display screen,

wherein the display control unit displays the indicator at the calculated position on the display screen when the continuation time of the proximity state of the finger has become longer than a prescribed time.

3 . The input device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the display control unit displays the indicator at the calculated position on the display screen if an item capable of receiving a touch manipulation is displayed at a position within a prescribed distance of the calculated position on the display screen.

4 . The input device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a display position correction unit which corrects a display position of the indicator if the position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in the vertical direction is close to an edge of the item.

5 . The input device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a display position correction unit which corrects a display position of the indicator if the position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in the vertical direction is in a range between an edge of the item and a middle point between the item and another item adjacent to the item.

6 . The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a manipulation finalizing unit which judges whether or not to finalize, as the touch manipulation target, the item displayed at a display position of the indicator in response to a touch manipulation made on the display screen in a prescribed range including the display position of the indicator.

7 . The input device according to claim 6 ,

wherein even if the item displayed at the display position of the indicator as an item to become a touch manipulation target is changed as a result of a downward movement of the finger in the vertical direction, the manipulation finalizing unit finalizes, as the touch manipulation target, the item displayed at the display position of the indicator.

8 . An input device comprising:

a display unit which displays data on a display screen;

a touch panel which detects proximity of a finger to the display screen;

a proximity coordinates extraction unit which extracts proximity coordinates of the proximity-detected finger with respect to the display screen; and

a display control unit which enlarges, as a touch manipulation target item, based on the extracted proximity coordinates, an item that is displayed at a position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in a vertical direction.

9 . The input device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a proximity time measuring unit which measures a continuation time of a proximity state of the finger based on the detection of proximity of the finger to the display screen,

wherein the display control unit enlarges an item that is displayed at a position within a prescribed distance of the position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in the vertical direction when the continuation time of the proximity state of the finger has become longer than a prescribed time.

10 . The input device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the display control unit enlarges an item capable of receiving a touch manipulation if the item capable of receiving a touch manipulation is displayed at the position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in the vertical direction.

11 . The input device according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a display position correction unit which corrects the position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in the vertical direction to a position inside the item if the position on the display screen under the finger in the vertical direction is in a range between the item and a middle point between the item and another item adjacent to the item.

12 . The input device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a manipulation finalizing unit which judges whether or not to finalize, as a touch manipulation target, the item that is an enlargement target in response to a touch manipulation made on the display screen in a prescribed range including the display position of the enlargement display target item.

13 . The input device according to claim 12 ,

wherein even if the enlargement target item that is an item to become a touch manipulation target is changed as a result of a downward movement of the finger in the vertical direction, the manipulation finalizing unit finalizes, as a touch manipulation target, the enlargement target item.

14 . A method for assisting input through a display screen, comprising:

detecting proximity of a finger to the display screen;

extracting proximity coordinates of the proximity-detected finger with respect to the display screen;

calculating a position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in a vertical direction based on the extracted proximity coordinates; and

displaying an indicator indicating an item to become a touch manipulation target at the calculated position on the display screen.

15 . A method for assisting input through a display screen, comprising:

detecting proximity of a finger to the display screen;

extracting proximity coordinates of the proximity-detected finger with respect to the display screen; and

enlarging, as a touch manipulation target item, based on the extracted proximity coordinates, an item displayed at a position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in a vertical direction.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause an input device comprising a display unit which displays data on a display screen to execute:

detecting proximity of a finger to the display screen;

extracting proximity coordinates of the proximity-detected finger with respect to the display screen;

calculating a position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in a vertical direction based on the extracted proximity coordinates; and

displaying an indicator indicating an item to become a touch manipulation target at the calculated position on the display screen.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause an input device comprising a display unit which displays data on a display screen to execute:

detecting proximity of a finger to the display screen;

extracting proximity coordinates of the proximity-detected finger with respect to the display screen; and

enlarging, as a touch manipulation target item, based on the extracted proximity coordinates, an item displayed at a position on the display screen under the proximity-detected finger in a vertical direction.