Recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing image and sound

A method for controlling a recording and reproducing device which records and reproduces information which includes image and sound, said recording and reproducing device including

• a housing unit which includes a first housing, and a second housing which has a main surface provided with a first display unit which displays an image,
• a coupling unit which connects said first housing to said second housing such that they can be placed on each other, and
• a second display unit which displays an operation unit, and accepts an instruction through operation of the displayed operation unit,
• said second display unit being positioned on a surface of said housing unit exposed to outside in a state where said housing unit is folded with said first housing and said second housing being placed on each other via said coupling unit, said method comprising the steps of:
• detecting which of said main surface and a rear surface opposite to the main surface is exposed to outside in the folded state;
• and
• switching said operation unit displayed on said second display unit to either a display operation unit which accepts an instruction for image display operation, or a sound recording operation unit which accepts an instruction for sound recording operation, based on detection at said detecting step.

A machine-readable recording medium which records a program which causes a processor to perform a method for controlling a recording and reproducing device which records and reproduces information which includes image and sound, said recording and reproducing device including

• a housing unit which includes a first housing, and a second housing which has a main surface provided with a first display unit which displays an image,
• a coupling unit which connects said first housing to said second housing such that they can be placed on each other, and
• a second display unit which displays an operation unit, and accepts an instruction through operation of the displayed operation unit,
• said second display unit being positioned on a surface of said housing unit exposed to outside in a state where said housing unit is folded with said first housing and said second housing being placed on each other via said coupling unit, said method comprising the steps of:
• detecting which of said main surface and a rear surface opposite to the main surface is exposed to outside in the folded state;
• and
• switching said operation unit to be displayed on said second display unit to either a display operation unit which accepts an instruction for image display operation, or a sound recording operation unit which accepts an instruction for sound recording operation, based on detection at said detecting step.