A device, comprising: a housing having a lower portion, an upper portion, and an end portion; a camera; a transparent window for scanning; a transparent window for viewing, the transparent window for viewing having an electronic display embedded therein; an image decoder, the image decoder being communicatively linked to the camera and to the electronic display; the camera being configured to scan images presented at the transparent window for scanning by a user and to send the scanned images to the image decoder; the image decoder being configured to decode the scanned images and to send the decoded image information to the electronic display; and the electronic display being configured to display the decoded image information on the transparent window for viewing; characterized by: the housing having the upper portion extending at a declining angle from the lower portion and the end portion extending at a declining angle from the upper portion; the transparent window for scanning being positioned on a lower end of the end portion of the housing; the camera being positioned in the lower portion of the housing; the transparent window for viewing being positioned on a top surface of the end portion of the housing and positioned above the transparent window for scanning, such that at least a portion of the area below the transparent window for scanning is visible in the transparent window for viewing; and a mirror being positioned at a top surface inside the upper portion of the housing such that light incident on the mirror from the transparent scanning window will be reflected within the camera's field of view. a housing having a lower portion, an upper portion, and an end portion; a camera; a transparent window for scanning; a transparent window for viewing, the transparent window for viewing having an electronic display embedded therein; an image decoder, the image decoder being communicatively linked to the camera and to the electronic display; the camera being configured to scan images presented at the transparent window for scanning by a user and to send the scanned images to the image decoder; the image decoder being configured to decode the scanned images and to send the decoded image information to the electronic display; and the electronic display being configured to display the decoded image information on the transparent window for viewing; characterized by: the housing having the upper portion extending at a declining angle from the lower portion and the end portion extending at a declining angle from the upper portion; the transparent window for scanning being positioned on a lower end of the end portion of the housing; the camera being positioned in the lower portion of the housing; the transparent window for viewing being positioned on a top surface of the end portion of the housing and positioned above the transparent window for scanning, such that at least a portion of the area below the transparent window for scanning is visible in the transparent window for viewing; and a mirror being positioned at a top surface inside the upper portion of the housing such that light incident on the mirror from the transparent scanning window will be reflected within the camera's field of view. the housing having the upper portion extending at a declining angle from the lower portion and the end portion extending at a declining angle from the upper portion; the transparent window for scanning being positioned on a lower end of the end portion of the housing; the camera being positioned in the lower portion of the housing; the transparent window for viewing being positioned on a top surface of the end portion of the housing and positioned above the transparent window for scanning, such that at least a portion of the area below the transparent window for scanning is visible in the transparent window for viewing; and a mirror being positioned at a top surface inside the upper portion of the housing such that light incident on the mirror from the transparent scanning window will be reflected within the camera's field of view.