Character input apparatus

A character input apparatus comprising:

• a display that displays a character which is a candidate for entry on a display surface;
• and
• a detector that judges whether a user comes close to the display surface either with a single point or plural points, and that detects a position where the user comes close to the display surface without contacting the display surface, wherein
• the display displays the character which varies in type depending on whether the user comes close to an area in the display surface corresponding to an identical character with a single point or plural points.

A character input method comprising the steps of:

• (a) displaying a plurality of characters which are candidates for entry on a display surface corresponding to an operation surface of a touch panel;
• (b) judging whether a user touches the operation surface either with a single point or plural points, and obtaining a position touched by the user;
• and
• (c) receiving an entry of a character associated with the position touched by the user among the plurality of characters, wherein
• the step (c) receives the entry of the character which varies in type depending on whether the user touches an area in the operation surface corresponding to an identical character with a single point or plural points.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores a program to be executed by a computer, the program causing the computer to execute the steps of:

• (a) causing a display surface corresponding to an operation surface of a touch panel to display a plurality of characters which are candidates for entry;
• (b) judging whether a user touches the operation surface either with a single point or plural points, and obtaining a position touched by the user;
• and
• (c) receiving an entry of a character associated with the position touched by the user among the plurality of characters, wherein
• the step (c) receives the entry of the character which varies in type depending on whether the user touches an area in the operation surface corresponding to an identical character with a single point or plural points.