Information processing apparatus and information processing method method

An information processing method, implemented on an information processing apparatus having a display device, comprising:

• detecting a specified position by a touch operation of a pointing device on a screen of the display device;
• detecting, with a sensor unit, a position of the pointing device when the pointing device is not in contact with the screen of the display device;
• and
• recognizing the touch operation and controlling the information processing apparatus in accordance with the recognized touch operation and the position of the pointing device detected by the sensor unit.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• a display device;
• a pointed position detecting unit configured to detect a specified position by a touch operation of a pointing device on a screen of the display device;
• a sensor unit configured to detect a position of the pointing device when the pointing device is not in contact with the screen of the display device;
• and
• a control unit configured to recognize the touch operation detected by the pointed position detecting unit and control the information processing apparatus in accordance with the recognized touch operation and the position of the pointing device detected by the sensor unit.