CHARACTER INPUT DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more improve convenience by promoting the use of a gesture operation in the case of inputting handwritten characters.SOLUTION: A character input device for inputting a handwritten character via a touch panel module (handwritten character input mode), and for editing a recognized character string or a converted character string (edition mode) is configured to determine a current input mode, and to, when the current input mode is the handwritten character input mode, display the operation procedure of a gesture operation which can be used in the handwritten character input mode as a gesture guidance in a guidance display area (S330), and to, when the current input mode is the edition mode, display the operation procedure of the gesture operation which can be used in the edition mode in the guidance display area (S340 to S360). Thus, it is possible for a user to make the character input device execute various processing by using the gesture operation without memorizing the numerous operation procedures of the gesture operation or the input mode in which its use is possible.