User interface apparatus and portable information apparatus

An apparatus configured to have a single body including a processing unit and a display unit, the apparatus comprising:

• an analogue sensor disposed on the body for detecting user's analogue input applied on the body of the apparatus, the analogue sensor comprising a pair of pressure sensors,
• wherein the user's analogue input corresponds to distortion of a flexible portion of the single body,
• wherein the analogue sensors are disposed on the body for detecting a direction of force applied to the body to cause distortion of the flexible portion,
• wherein the processing unit changes a screen view of a plurality of items displayed on the display unit based on an output value of the analogue sensor where the output value is greater than a predetermined value, and
• a two-dimensional position sensor, distinct from and used in conjunction with the analogue sensor, for sensing at least one of a user touch position in a two-dimensional plane and/or a direction of movement of the user touch position;
• wherein the processing unit changing the screen view includes controlling at least one graphical user interface object.

An apparatus configured to have a single body including a processing unit and a display unit, the apparatus comprising:

• an analogue sensor disposed on the body for detecting user's analogue input applied on the body of the apparatus, the analogue sensor comprising a pair of pressure sensors disposed on the body for detecting a direction of force applied to the body, and
• a two-dimensional position sensor, distinct from and used in conjunction with the analogue sensor, for sensing at least one of a user touch position in a two-dimensional plane and a direction of movement of the user touch position;
• wherein the processing unit comprises an image processing unit having a plurality of operation modes to generate a screen view of a plurality of items displayed on the display unit, and
• wherein the processing unit controls functionality of at least one of the operation modes based on an output value of the analogue sensor being greater than a predetermined value, and
• wherein the processing unit causes an image to be superimposed over a portion of the screen view based on the output value of the analogue sensor;
• and
• wherein the processing unit causes the image to replace the screen view on the display unit;
• wherein the processing unit controls at least one graphical user interface object.

A portable information apparatus operated in response to a user input, comprising:

• a main body;
• gesture input means for obtaining physical interaction applied on the main body by a user, wherein the physical interaction applied on the main body causes the main body to bend, the gesture input means comprising an analogue sensor, the analogue sensor comprising a pair of pressure sensors for detecting a direction of force applied to cause distortion in an operation section with respect to the main body;
• processing means for executing processing in accordance with the user input,
• a visual display for visually displaying a result of the processing by the processing means,
• direction input means, distinct from and used in conjunction with the gesture input means, for inputting a direction in a display screen of the visual display in response to an operation performed with a user's finger;
• wherein the processing means controls at least one graphical user interface object;
• and
• selecting means for selecting a view of a plurality items based on the analogue sensor sensing a distortion status of the flexible part greater than a predetermined value.