PURPOSE: To input a character, which input is designated, without fail even when many characters are arranged within a limited space by arranging a character sheet on a coordinate detection board in the state of shifting the position of an input sense area for a prescribed distance on an input operator side in respect to the positions of characters on the character sheet.

CONSTITUTION: Based on two conditions such as the general characteristic of an instructed position and the deviation of a really detected position to the instructed position, the character sheet 1 is arranged on a coordinate detection board 2 in the state of shifting the position of the input sense area 2 to the operator side for the prescribed distance in respect to the position of a character (a). This prescribed distance is about 0.5m/m, for example, and by shifting the character sheet 1 and the coordinate detection board 2 relatively from a conventional arrangement position for about 0.5m/m, the character (a), which input is instructed, is inputted without fail. Thus, even when many characters are arranged within the narrow space, the character with the instruction of the input can be inputted without fail.