Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems may be used to automatically declutter a map. In an example, operations may be effectuated that include displaying a map of a region with a plurality of objects and responsive to receiving an alert within the region, automatically providing instructions to display a subset of the plurality of objects. The subset of the plurality of objects may be selected based on an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the region.

Abstract: A font deformation method includes surrounding a character with a frame, where the outline of the character has a plurality of control points used for describing the outline of the character; using a set of partitioning lines to divide the frame into a plurality of partitions, the set of partitioning lines separating the character into a plurality of character portions each being corresponding to a partition; determining corresponding coordinates of each control point in its corresponding partition; moving the set of partitioning lines to change the dimension of some partitions; adjusting at least one control point to keep corresponding coordinates of each control point substantially unchanged in its corresponding partition; and drawing a deformed outline according to the plurality of adjusted control points to generate a deformed character.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to automatic generation of dynamically changing layouts for a graphical user-interface. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure employ analysis of an image associated with the view (e.g., either the current view or a future view) of the graphical user-interface to determine colors that are complementary to the image. The colors are applied to the view, such that the color scheme of the view matches the image.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus, including a display control section which determines which display layers out of a plurality of mutually overlapping display layers information is to be displayed on based on parameters associated with the information.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to avatar animation. One example provides a computing device comprising a processor and a storage device comprising instructions executable by the processor to receive non-contact biometric data of a user from a biometric sensing system, establish a baseline emotional state of the user based on the non-contact biometric data, output an avatar representing the user with an animation representing the baseline emotional state, observe a threshold change in the non-contact biometric data, and in response to observing the threshold change in the non-contact biometric data, output the avatar with an animation representing a new emotional state.

Abstract: A method for generating a user-customized computer-generated animation includes receiving digital content and determining a modifiable portion of the digital content. The digital content includes a computer-generated animation. A design template is received, where the design template includes a representation of the modifiable portion of the digital content. Template image data is generated by performing image analysis on the representation of the modifiable portion of the digital content. A revised portion of the digital content is generated based on the template image data, where the revised portion is a revised version of the modifiable portion of the digital content. Updated digital content that includes a version of the computer-generated animation with the revised portion of the digital content is generated and displayed.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present specification are a digital device and a service processing method thereof. The digital device and the service processing method thereof according to the present invention may comprise the steps of: receiving text data; activating a text field for displaying the received text data; displaying the text data within the activated text field; checking whether or not the attribute type of the text field is a marquee attribute; and as a result of checking, if the attribute type of the text field is a marquee attribute, moving the text displayed within the text field in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for a graphics processing apparatus comprising render logic to detect rendering operations that will result in framebuffer having the same data as the initial clear color value and morphing such rendering operations to optimizations that are typically done for initial clearing of the framebuffer.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to determining the location of a specified level of detail for a graphics texture. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes texture processing circuitry configured to receive information specifying a particular mipmap in a chain of stored mipmaps for a graphics texture and determine an offset address for the particular mipmap. In these embodiments, the texture processing circuitry is configured to determine the offset address by operating on a value that indicates a greatest potential chain size for chains of mipmaps in a graphics processing element. In these embodiments, the operating includes masking upper bits of the value based on a size of the texture and masking lower bits of the value based on a position of the specified mipmap in the chain of stored mipmaps. Disclosed techniques may reduce power consumption and/or area of circuitry configured to determine the offset.

Abstract: A mechanism is described for facilitating increased precision in large mip-mapped stitched textures for graphics computing devices. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes detecting a stitched texture associated with a first frame of contents associated with an application, and a first region of interest in the stitched texture, where the stitched texture includes a mip-mapped stitched texture associated with multiple mip-levels in a mip-chain. The method may further include defining, at a first mip-level, a tile offset at a position within the first region of interest, where the first mip-level corresponds to the first frame. The method may further include creating or modifying a view of the stitched texture to specify the tile offset, and rendering the stitched texture as a normal texture with a full sub-texel precision.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ray tracing may include a method, manufacture and apparatus for ray tracing that may include dividing a render target into a plurality of bins. Next, a visibility pass is performed using ray tracing to generate a visibility stream such that the visibility stream indicates, for each bin of the plurality of bins, which primitives are visible in the bin. Then, for at least one bin of the plurality of bins, each primitive in the bin that is indicated in the visibility stream as being visible in the bin is rendered.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for rendering and compositing two-dimensional images for remote visualization using a multi-pass rendering technique are provided. A server computer renders a three-dimensional volume separately from one or more three-dimensional graphical objects to be embedded in the rendered image of the volume. The server compresses and transmits the separately rendered images to a client computer. The client computer decompresses the rendered images and generates a composite image using the rendered images. If a user manipulates, adds or deletes an embedded object, the client computer generates a new composite image using the previously rendered volume image. In the case of a new or manipulated embedded graphical object, the server only renders the manipulated or new object.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method of obtaining data from a 2D image in order to determine the 3D shape of objects appearing in said 2D image, said 2D image having distinguishable epipolar lines, said method comprising: (a) providing a predefined set of types of features, giving rise to feature types, each feature type being distinguishable according to a unique bi-dimensional formation; (b) providing a coded light pattern comprising multiple appearances of said feature types; (c) projecting said coded light pattern on said objects such that the distance between epipolar lines associated with substantially identical features is less than the distance between corresponding locations of two neighboring features; (d) capturing a 2D image of said objects having said projected coded light pattern projected thereupon, said 2D image comprising reflected said feature types; and (e) extracting: (i) said reflected feature types according to the unique bi-dimensional formations; and (ii) locations of said reflected feature

Abstract: A method includes determining, at a first time, a representation of a first head rotation of a head mounted display (HMD) using a first inertial sensor sample stream and rendering, at an application processor, a texture based on the first head rotation. The method further includes determining, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a representation of a second head rotation of the HMD using a second inertial sensor sample stream having a higher sampling rate than the first inertial sensor sample stream, and generating, at a compositor, a rotated representation of the texture based on a difference between the first head rotation and the second head rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a 3D model, in which point clouds from a scanner are automatically aligned using marker information, with markers attached to an object. The apparatus includes a point cloud refinement unit for receiving point clouds and marker sets from scanning of an object, refining the point clouds, and transmitting refined point clouds and marker sets, a point cloud alignment unit for inquiring of a point cloud and marker set database about a point cloud group of point cloud pairs and a marker set group of marker set pairs, and aligning the point cloud group, wherein the point cloud pairs and the marker set pairs are acquired by scanning a single object in different directions, and a surface generation unit for generating a 3D model by reconstructing a surface of the object based on the aligned point cloud group.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a software based emulator of a graphics processing unit (GPU) that is configured to operate over a cloud-based network. A virtual image containing graphics primitives is divided into a plurality of tiles. A load balancer assigns tiles to rasterization threads in order to evenly distribute the processing load. The rasterization threads then rasterize their assigned tiles and deliver rendered pixels to a frame buffer. The frame buffer builds a frame from the rendered pixels and then delivers the frame over the network to a client device platform. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A 3D voxel grid of an environment is generated, with a signed value assigned to each voxel representative of that voxel's distance from a nearest surface. For each subset of the 3D voxel grid comprising a surface, an initial surface mesh is generated. As new depth information is received, an updated surface is generated only for those subsets of the 3D voxel grid that exhibit greater than threshold change in signed values over time.

Abstract: An analysis model creation assistance device comprises a mesh data registration unit for registering a mesh data which has been already divided into meshes for a simulation in a mesh database, a CAD data registration unit for registering a CAD data corresponding to the mesh data in a CAD database, and a usable mode extractor for registering a mesh data corresponding to a data on mesh members excluding a mesh member of a largest size in a usable model database as a usable mesh.

Abstract: A set of processes in a computing system is defined at a plurality of different levels of granularity. For each level, entities that participate at the level are mapped to that level and a data model for the participating entities is generated. An interactive architecture reference model is generated and an interface to the model is exposed for generating an impact analysis based on a capabilities change request.

Abstract: A hand-held controller for a virtual-reality system includes an antenna, a grip, a cage coupled to the grip, and a plurality of LEDs on an outer surface of the cage. Wireless signals are received from a remote camera via the antenna. The plurality of LEDs is duty-cycled, which includes turning on the plurality of LEDs at times determined using the wireless signals. The times when the plurality of LEDs is turned on correspond to times when the remote camera captures images of the hand-held controller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing virtual reality-based digital optical content for digital optical devices. The apparatus for providing virtual reality-based digital optical content for digital optical devices includes a content management unit for providing at least one piece of digital optical content corresponding to a digital optical device, a content execution unit for executing an optical image corresponding to the at least one piece of digital optical content on a display screen, an adjustment data acquisition unit for acquiring optical image adjustment data that is input by a user of the digital optical device to adjust the optical image, and a virtual camera configuration provision unit for providing virtual camera configuration data corresponding to the at least one piece of digital optical content so as to adjust the optical image in correspondence with the optical image adjustment data.

Abstract: An augmented reality-based hand interaction apparatus and method using image information. The augmented reality-based hand interaction apparatus using image information includes an object recognition module configured to extract feature points from an input color image, recognize an object which is a target of interest based on the extracted feature points, and estimate a three-dimensional (3D) posture of the recognized object, and an interaction module configured to extract 3D mesh information from an input depth image, match 3D coordinates of the extracted 3D mesh information with 3D coordinates of the object recognized by the object recognition module to extract 3D position information of the recognized object in 3D space, and detect whether or not an augmented 3D object and the recognized object collide with each other based on relative positional relationship information between the recognized object and the augmented 3D object.

Abstract: An assembling method, an augmented reality system and a computer program product for measuring and/or manufacturing are provided. A targeting object may be placed in a working space. A distance is measured from the measurement device to the targeting object. The distance measurement is transmitted to the augmented reality system, and the augmented reality system determines whether the distance measurement corresponds to a target distance.

Abstract: The present invention embraces a system, device, and method for adding lighting effects to augmented reality (AR) content (i.e., virtual objects). Light sensors in an augmented reality (AR) system monitor an environment's lighting conditions to acquire lighting data that can be used to create (or update) virtual light sources. Depth sensors in the AR system sense the environment to acquire mapping data that can be used to create a 3D model of the environment while tracking the system's location within the environment. Algorithms running on a processor may then add the virtual light sources to the 3D model of the environment so that, when AR content is created, lighting effects corresponding to the virtual light sources can be added. The resulting AR content with virtual lighting effects appear more realistic to a user.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a computer-implemented method can include displaying, on a display of an electronic device, an object from a first virtual reality (VR) viewpoint. The method can further include overlaying, on the display, a highlight within the first VR viewpoint of the object. The method can also further include transitioning, on the display of the electronic device without simulated motion, from displaying the object from the first VR viewpoint with the highlight to displaying the object from a second VR viewpoint. The second VR viewpoint can be a close-up view of a portion of the object that is within the highlight in the first VR viewpoint.

Abstract: A method of controlling a widget in a virtual space is disclosed, comprising: moving a field-of-view and a point of gaze in the virtual space; determining if the widget and the point of gaze overlap each other, and providing an input to the widget if the widget and the point of gaze overlap; determining if at least a part of the widget is positioned outside the field of view; and moving the widget so that the part of the widget is positioned inside the field of view if it is determined that at least a part of the widget is positioned outside the field of view.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for simplifying a point cloud. A point cloud is received where the point cloud has a plurality of points, a global spatial structure, and a local point density. The processor calculates a set of pairwise distances for the plurality of points to at least one other point in the plurality of points. A first distance matrix is generated using the set of pairwise distances. The processor calculates a second pairwise distance set where the plurality of points have a weight and generates a second distance matrix based off the second pairwise distance set. A portion of the points in the second pairwise distance set are removed based on the weight. The processor performs a comparison of the two matrices using the comparison and the global spatial structure and the local point density, and generates a second point cloud based on the second distance matrix.

Abstract: In an approach to improving road user charging, one or more computer processors retrieve one or more zone records and at least a first zone sequence from a computing device associated with a vehicle, where the one or more zone records include one or more distances traveled by the vehicle. The one or more computer processors calculate a second zone sequence from the retrieved zone records. The one or more computer processors compare the first zone sequence to the second zone sequence. The one or more computer processors determine, based, at least in part, on the comparison of the first zone sequence to the second zone sequence, whether the first zone sequence meets a pre-defined threshold of similarity to the second zone sequence.

Abstract: In an approach to improving road user charging, a computer retrieves one or more zone records and at least a first zone sequence from a computing device associated with a vehicle, where the one or more zone records include one or more distances traveled by the vehicle. The computer calculates a second zone sequence from the retrieved zone records. The computer compares the first zone sequence to the second zone sequence. The computer determines, based, at least in part, on the comparison of the first zone sequence to the second zone sequence, whether the first zone sequence meets a pre-defined threshold of similarity to the second zone sequence. Responsive to determining the first zone sequence does not meet a pre-defined threshold of similarity to the second zone sequence, the computer retrieves raw location data from the computing device. The computer transmits the raw location data to a precise algorithm.

Abstract: A health monitoring system for monitoring a vehicle and a method for operating the same are provided. The system, for example, may include, but is not limited to, at least one sensor configured to collect data corresponding to the vehicle, an interface system, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the interface system and the memory, the processor configured to: determine when the vehicle is experiencing an anomaly, collect, from the interface system, data corresponding to the anomaly from a user of the vehicle, and associate, the data collected from the interface system and the data collected from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: An information collection system includes an on-vehicle device and a server, wherein the on-vehicle device includes a first transmission signal transmitting part configured to transmit a first transmission signal to the server when the vehicle event is detected, and an upload executing part configured to transmit the vehicle event data to the server when the upload demand is received. The server includes a determining part configured to determine, based on the determination purposes information, when the first transmission is received, whether the information acquisition condition is met, an upload demanding part configured to transmit the upload demand to the on-vehicle device when it is determined that the information acquisition condition is met, and a vehicle event data receiving part configured to receive the vehicle event data transmitted from the on-vehicle device.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a set of devises for determining a state of the vehicle at an instant of time and a processor operatively connected to a memory for processing parameters of the state of the vehicle collected over a plurality of instances of time for a period of time from an initial instance of time till a current instant of time to determine a set of driving conditions leading to a current state of the vehicle at the current instant of time. Each driving condition indicates a condition of an operation of the vehicle for the period of time. The vehicle also includes a communication module for outputting the current state of the vehicle determined by the set of devices at the current instant of time and for outputting the set of driving conditions leading to the current state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults in a vehicle control system comprising functional units having an associated unique prime number label is provided. The method comprises calling each of the functional units, the call comprising a readable and updateable integer traversal value, and in case the functional unit is operating correctly, updating the traversal value to be the product of the value in the call and the label of the currently called functional unit, and in the case of a fault, not updating the traversal value. Further, the method comprises determining from the traversal value if any functional units are faulty by a comparison with an expected traversal value, and, in the case that the traversal value is not equivalent to the expected traversal value, determining which functional units are faulty by a unique prime factorization algorithm.

Abstract: An operation management system for a vehicle controllable by an operator to perform various vehicle actions, the system including a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The processor is configured to record sequences of operator-initiated vehicle actions and compare the sequences. If at least two of the sequences contain the same operator-initiated vehicle actions, identify the at least two of the sequences as matching sequences, and communicate, by way of the human-machine interface, to the operator of the vehicle a suggested operating sequence based on the matching sequences.

Abstract: A checkout system includes a register machine and a payment machine. The register machine includes a scanner configured to scan a product code on each of one or more products, a communication interface, and a processor configured to control the communication interface to transmit a transaction ID that is based on a customer code read from a medium carried by a customer before transmitting all of one or more product IDs corresponding to one or more scanned product codes. The payment machine is separate from the register machine and includes a code reader configured to read the customer code in the medium, and a processor configured to start retrieving said one or more product IDs in response to reading of the customer code by the code reader and to carry out payment processing based on said one or more product IDs.

Abstract: A method for managing access rights of a user (10) to one place, the method being applied by an automaton (20), inter alia by a time-stamp meter, the automaton (20) including a readout unit (22, 26) and the method including the steps: presenting to the readout member (22, 26) a physical identification medium (14), sending at least one message for requesting provision of the identification code by the readout unit (22, 26) to the physical medium (14), each message being a message intended to be addressed to the first layer (C1) according to a different communication protocol, when the readout unit (22, 26) receives a response from the physical medium (14), receiving the identification code.

Abstract: A system comprises a web-cloud security subsystem that hosts, manages, and analyzes data related to a plurality of hosted applications that provide at least one of physical access control, surveillance, alarm management, visitor management, and elevator management; at least one physical security subsystem that exchanges data with a corresponding hosted application of the web-cloud security subsystem; and a real-time control and monitoring device that provides secure access of the web-cloud security subsystem.

Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a key from a key kiosk disposed at a realtor's office near a real property based on a showing appointment scheduled with a showing scheduling system. The appointment, including a date and time, as well as an authorized user is communicated from the showing scheduling system to the key kiosk. The user then authenticates herself or himself to the kiosk at the appropriate time, and the key is dispensed. The kiosk authenticates the user by scanning a QR code or using the physical location of the user. The kiosk will not dispense the key if the user has a different key that is checked out, but not returned yet. The key can be returned to the kiosk where it is dispensed, or a different key kiosk. The kiosk also dispenses a single common key when the user shows multiple properties.

Abstract: An electronic lockbox system allows both sales agents and sales prospects to communicate either with the lockbox, or with the central clearinghouse computer. Contextual data then is provided to the sales prospect while the prospect is visiting a specific property that is the site of a lockbox installation. Both the agent and the prospect use smart devices, such as smart phones, that have both wide area network capability and low power radio capability. In other situations, contextual data can be sent to a user having a smart device, in which that contextual data pertains to at least one human occupant of the specific property where that lockbox has been installed, which can be useful where a medical caregiver arrives to visit a human occupant of a specific property that is protected by the electronic lockbox.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vending system for supply of product from a plurality of containers each having a corresponding access door having an electrically activatable lock arrangement 200. The system has an interface module by which a predetermined maximum electrical power is made available for supply to the containers and lock arrangements such that each lock arrangement has a plurality of operational modes. The modes include: an active mode by which the lock arrangement is activatable in response to a vending instruction; a standby mode by which the lock arrangement awaits a vending instruction; and a sleep mode by which the lock arrangement minimises power drawn from the interface module. The interface module operates the lock arrangements in the standby mode and the interface module operates at least one lock arrangement in the sleep mode, and at least one lock arrangement in the active mode.

Abstract: A method of constructing and creating a proposed cinema selection may receive, from a plurality of users, selected cinema elements to create a plurality of proposed cinema selections and store, in a memory, the plurality of proposed cinema selections along with corresponding selected cinema elements. The method may also include displaying one of the plurality of proposed cinema selections along with a plurality of the selected cinema elements, receiving voting authorization for a user that a payment has been received to allow voting for one of a plurality of proposed cinema selections; and receiving at least one voting value identifying which of the plurality of proposed cinema selections has been voted on by at least one user. The method also include aggregating the voting values received for proposed cinema selections; and displaying a list of the proposed cinema selections having a highest ranking based on the voting values.

Abstract: A coin hopper includes a hopper body including a housing having an accommodation chamber defined in a funnel-shaped coin box thereof and a coin outlet for guiding coins out of the accommodation chamber individually, a rotating wheel having multiple coin-pushing blades extended from a wheel base thereof and a coin-receiving space defined between each two adjacent coin-pushing blades, each coin-pushing blade having an abutment edge extending along one lateral side thereof for stopping one coin in one coin-receiving space and a pushing edge extending along an opposite lateral side thereof, a power drive adapted for rotating the rotating wheel to let coins be ruffled by coin-pushing blades and forced into coin-receiving spaces and then guided by arc-shaped abutment edges to move out of each coin-receiving space upwardly toward coin outlet one after another, and a coin-dispensing mechanism including a spring-loaded lever for pushing coins out of coin outlet individually.

Abstract: A coin hopper includes a rotating disc having recesses that receive and hold coins one by one; a moving body that is disposed at a position corresponding to the recess and moves reciprocally between a holding position and a push-out position; a cam groove including a first route having a substantially circular shape and a second route connected to the first route at first and second branch points and protruding toward the outer periphery of the rotating disc with respect to the first route; and a cam follower disposed in the cam groove provided on a back side of the moving body. The moving body is held at the holding position when the cam follower moves along the first route and moves reciprocally between the holding position and the push-out position when the cam follower moves along the second route.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for coin discrimination are disclosed herein. Disclosed methods for discriminating coins include recognizing strings of alphanumerical characters of the coin using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). The methods can include recognizing colors and/or reflectivity of the coin using, for example, pixel thresholding algorithms. The methods can further include adding a line to an image of the coin, and measuring angles between the line and the edges on the coin. The methods can also include generating a rectangular image of the coin using, for example, a log-polar transform, generating a series of, for example, Fourier transforms from the rectangular image, and identifying spectral peak locations and intensities in the Fourier transform results.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for determining a mixture ratio for allocating portions of an advertising budget among different advertising channels (e.g., print, online, radio, television) to optimize a performance measure, such as cost-per-action. A mixture space is used to define the available advertising channels and any constraints placed on those channels, such as no more than fifty percent of the advertising budget being allocated to a particular channel, and test mixture ratios are selected according to an optimality criterion. The selected test mixture ratios are used during a testing period on live traffic. The performance measures from the test mixture ratios are used to select a preferred mixture ratio from the mixture space.

Abstract: A device, system, and method of detecting counterfeit articles are provided. The method includes receiving article identifying information associated with a test article, using the article identifying information to retrieve an authentic article image associated with the test article from an image storage database, scanning the test article to capture one or more images of the test article under different wavelength illuminations, and displaying the one or more test article images and the authentic article image to allow comparison of the test article and the associated authentic article. Additionally, multiple wavelength emitting elements may be located within an image-capturing device, to provide alternate illuminations of the test article, allowing alternating capture of images highlighting different security features for providing a superimposed image. A system of counterfeit article detection is also provided.

Abstract: A method and a corresponding system for processing value documents, in particular bank notes, include the following steps: inputting value documents into an input pocket and singling the input value documents; capturing one or several properties of the individual value documents; ascertaining an identifier, in particular a serial number, of the value documents with the help of the captured properties of the value documents; storing the ascertained identifier of the value documents; outputting the value documents into at least one output pocket; and checking whether in the at least one output pocket there are located one or several second value documents whose identifier was not ascertained and/or not stored, with the help of the ascertained identifier of one or several first value documents output to the output pocket. The invention enables in an easy and time-saving manner a reliable processing of value documents, in particular a reliable accounting of deposits.

Abstract: A method for activation of a payment card includes accessing a remote computer server of a card issuer to input card activation information, storing a unique code in the payment card having a contactless readable interface and in the remote computer server, the unique code corresponding to the payment card, and reading the unique code by a user terminal having a corresponding contactless interface, the user interface configured to connect over a communication network to access messages directed to the cardholder. The method also includes sending the unique code from the user terminal to the remote computer server, and upon verification of the unique code at the remote computer server, generating and sending an activation code to the user terminal and supplying access to an activation code input mask corresponding to the payment card.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a user-friendly and a user-interactive cellular mobile phone console, allowing a user to interactively replace a malfunctioning cellular mobile phone with a functioning mobile phone.

Abstract: The present invention is a gift card dispenser for dispensing cards in a larger machine, such as a vending machine or arcade game, where the dispenser includes an electric motor controlled by a computer to perform a single cycle per activation. A stack of cards within the dispenser is arranged to engage a reciprocating pusher device coupled to the electric motor such that the reciprocating pusher extending from a retracted position to an extended position and then returning to the retracting position. A projection on the slider tilts the stack of cards away from the opening of the device, preventing theft of the cards with a hook or wire.