To detect the position of an object located on a display panel surface and in the upper space of the top surface of the display panel surface, and conduct appropriate display control.

A contact point on a display panel surface of a capacitance type sensor made up of a wire electrode or a point electrode and a position of a fingertip that faces the display panel surface (spacial position) are detected as a change in capacitance. A detection resolution for the fingertip is changed so that as the fingertip approaches the display panel surface, it becomes higher. It is preferable that in association with the adjustment of the detection resolution, a detection sensitivity is adjusted so that it becomes lower as the fingertip approaches the display panel surface. When the position of the fingertip on the display panel surface is detected, the display state of information (image) displayed on two-dimensional display means (LCD or the like) is controlled according to the movement of the fingertip, and the display state is changed based on the position of the fingertip in the detection space and its movement or trace. This invention can be applied to a display device having a display panel that can be operated with a user's fingertip or the like, for example.