User interface system, user interface apparatus, and method of controlling electronic device

A user interface system for outputting a control signal for controlling an electronic device in any of a plurality of pieces of predetermined control content on the basis of an input operation of the user, comprising:

• an operating device having an operation screen for accepting an input operation of the user by a touch;
• a position detecting device which detects a user touch position in the operation screen;
• a position change detecting device which detects a change in the touch position in the case where the user changes the touch position while maintaining the touch state with the operating device;
• and
• an output device which outputs a control signal corresponding to a control amount based on the touch position, and a change amount of the change in the touch position detected by the position change detecting device,
• wherein in the case where the control amount is a function of the present value of the control content, the output device changes the control amount according to the change amount in such a way that a shape of graph indicative of the function becomes to a smoothly-staircase-like, and monotonously increased shape in the case where the present value is indicated by a horizontal axis, and the control amount is indicated by a vertical axis, and
• the output device outputs a control signal corresponding to the changed control amount.

An electronic device controlling method of controlling an electronic device in any of a plurality of pieces of predetermined control content on the basis of an input operation of the user, comprising:

• a first process of detecting a touch position of a user in an operating element having an operation screen for accepting an input operation of the user by a touch;
• a second process of detecting a change in the touch position in the case where the user changes the touch position while maintaining the touch state with the operating element;
• and
• a third process of determining the control content on the basis of the touch position in the operating element and, when the touch position changes, controlling the electronic device with the control content on the basis of a control amount according to an amount of the change in the touch position,
• wherein the third process is a process of, in the case where the control amount is a function of the present value of the control content, changing the control amount according to the change amount in such a way that a shape of graph indicative of the function becomes to a smoothly-staircase-like, and monotonously increased shape in the case where the present value is indicated by a horizontal axis, and the control amount is indicated by a vertical axis.