Contact operation device and sound signal playback method

A playback method for playing back a sound signal by a contact operation device and a portable information terminal, wherein:

• the portable information terminal includes a touchscreen;
• and
• the contact operation device includes:
• an arm including a contact operation portion at a tip end thereof, the contact operation portion being configured to contact the touchscreen;
• and
• a support part configured to support the arm, the support part including a first support mechanism configured to permit the arm to move such that the contact operation portion is carried in a horizontal direction, and a second support mechanism configured to permit the arm to move such that the contact operation portion is carried in a vertical direction,
• the playback method comprising:
• displaying, on the touchscreen of the portable information terminal, an image of a recording medium on which a sound signal is recorded;
• determining, in a case where the contact operation portion contacts the touchscreen displaying the image of the recording medium, a playback start position of the sound signal based on a contact position of the contact operation portion in the image of the recording medium;
• and
• starting playback of the sound signal from the playback start position.

A playback method for playing back a sound signal by a contact operation device and a portable information terminal, wherein:

• the portable information terminal comprises a touchscreen;
• the contact operation device comprises:
• an arm including a contact operation portion at a tip end thereof, the contact operation portion being configured to contact the touchscreen;
• a support part configured to support the arm, the support part including a first support mechanism configured to permit the arm to move such that the contact operation portion is carried in a horizontal direction, and a second support mechanism configured to permit the arm to move such that the contact operation portion is carried in a vertical direction;
• a communication unit;
• and
• a drive unit,
• the playback method comprising:
• displaying, on the touchscreen of the portable information terminal, an image of a recording medium on which the sound signal is recorded, in response to receiving a selection of a sound signal;
• and
• transmitting, from the portable information terminal to the contact operation device, a first drive command to cause the drive unit to drive the arm to move the contact operation portion to contact a position on a screen of the touchscreen, the position on the screen corresponding to a playback start position of the sound signal.