Operating terminal and operating method

An operating method executed by an operating terminal for operating an external device configured to project and retract a part of a surface of the external device, the operating terminal comprising:

• a display unit configured to display an image;
• and a touch panel provided superimposed on a display area of the display unit, and configured to detect a touched area of an object from an outside and to receive a position signal in response to the touched area, the method comprising:
• determining a change of the touched area on the touch panel, based on the position signal received by the touch panel;
• detecting a boundary of areas having different features in the touched area in the image;
• and
• generating a drive signal that indicates a drive amount for causing the part of the surface of the external device to be projected and retracted, based on a determination result in determining the change of the touched area on the touch panel and a detection result in detecting the boundary of the areas having different features in the touched area in the image, and outputting the drive signal to the external device.