The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for controlling an electric device. The electric device has a touch screen. The method comprises: detecting whether there is an operation input on the touch screen so as to generate a piece of detection information; when the detection information indicates that there is an operation input on the touch screen, forming a sliding track on the touch screen in response to the operation; judging whether the sliding track meets a predetermined condition so as to generate judgment information, wherein the predetermined condition is that the sliding track is a curvilinear track and comprises a first contact point and a second contact point, the first contact point and the second contact point being contact points which coincide or not coincide with each other; determining an independent operation area on the touch screen based on the sliding track, and determining a display orientation of a displayed object within the independent operation area based on the sliding track when the judgment information indicates that the sliding track meets the predetermined condition.