By dual chips exchanging a signal indicating a pressing load detected for providing the tactile sensation, application process based thereon is performed. A tactile sensation providing apparatus includes a touch sensor, a load detection unit for detecting the pressing load on the sensor for providing the sensation, a tactile sensation providing unit for vibrating a surface the sensor, a provision control unit for controlling drive of the providing unit, and a main control unit for controlling an application. The main control unit determines whether a predetermined area of the surface is touched based on an output of the sensor and, when touched, transmits an instruction to the provision control unit. The provision control unit, upon receiving the instruction from the main control unit, detects the pressing load and transmits the detected load to the main control unit. The main control unit, based on the load, performs the application process.