An apparatus and method are provided for controlling a coordinate measuring apparatus including a first touch panel that detects a contact of a portion of a human body and a contact of a coordinate indicating apparatus, and a second touch panel for detecting an electromagnetic signal from the coordinate indicating apparatus. The method includes determining a detection state of the coordinate indicating apparatus based on the electromagnetic signal detected by the second touch panel; and determining an activated area of the first touch panel based on the detection state of the coordinate indicating apparatus.