PURPOSE: To make it possible to input the specification of an area and a data processing sort and to improve a human interface by allowing an operator to touch picture data displayed on a display with a finger or the like.

CONSTITUTION: While observing a picture displayed on a display, an operator searches a required area and inputs segmenting information for segmenting the area through an input part 105. The segmenting information consists of a coordinate sequence for regulating a segmenting area, information for indicating a sort, i.e., characters or graphics, and how to segment the area, and so on. The segmenting information is inputted to a control part 106, which decodes the segmenting information, segments a specified picture data part based upon the decoded result and executes the processing of a sort specified for the picture data. The input part 105 is provided with a board capable of inputting data by allowing the operator to touch the board with a part of his (or her) body. Thereby many points can be inputted only by one operation.