A haptic interface device includes a detection section for detecting the
state of operation on an operating section performed by an operator or
the position of the operating section and outputting a signal indicating
the detected state or position; a driving section for electromagnetically
driving the operating section to provide a reaction force to the
operator; and a control section for controlling the driving section
according to the signal output from the detection section and based on
interface definition information in which is defined specification
information for the operating section to behave as an interface
apparatus. The control section produces a reaction force corresponding to
the operation performed by the operator to provide an operational feeling
that would be produced by the interface apparatus behaved by the
operating section when operated. Thus, the haptic interface device
provides operational feelings associated with various operations to the
operator through their sense of touch with a single operation member.