Technologies and techniques for operating of a touch-sensitive display device of a vehicle. A processor display generates content on the touch-sensitive display device, wherein the content includes assigned elements configured to function in a display mode and an operating mode, depending on a user's presence in at least one of a first position and a second position of the vehicle. A sensing apparatus detects an approach by a user toward the touch-sensitive display device. The processor identifies that the user is in the second position relative to the display device, and, based on the identifying, changes an operating state of the display device to change at least one display mode element of the display content assigned to the second position from display mode to operating mode.