A POS terminal for a retail environment, comprising a data acquisition device for generating event data as an output of user implemented product scan of a product along a scanning path of the POS terminal, said path comprising an entry point and an exit point, the entry point being an object pick up area from where the user picks a product to be scanned and the exit point being an object drop off area where the user drops off the product; and a processing unit for receiving at least a portion of event data from the data acquisition device and processing the event data according to a set of predefined rules, the event data including a shape, size and volume of the product and a parameter relating to the user as the product is scanned along the scanning path from the entry point to the exit point, the parameter comprising a measurement of the hand of the user; the data acquisition device comprising: a universal product code, UPC, scanner; a plurality of illumination units (202, 204, 206, 208) located at the entry point, the exit point of the scanning path, parallel to the scanning path and perpendicular to the scanning path, said plurality of illumination units for providing illumination to guide the user along the scanning path; and a plurality of sensors located along the scanning path at each of the respective points, said sensors configured to sense the event data along the scanning path; and wherein processing the event data comprises determining a control parameter for the POS terminal in response to the event data; and controlling the plurality of illumination units to display a light pattern in response to the determined control parameter, the plurality of illumination units providing active background screens; tracking the user's hand while the user holds the product from the entry point to the exit point through the provision of the active background screens; generating a user alert based on the control parameter and communicating the user alert to the end user. a data acquisition device for generating event data as an output of user implemented product scan of a product along a scanning path of the POS terminal, said path comprising an entry point and an exit point, the entry point being an object pick up area from where the user picks a product to be scanned and the exit point being an object drop off area where the user drops off the product; and a processing unit for receiving at least a portion of event data from the data acquisition device and processing the event data according to a set of predefined rules, the event data including a shape, size and volume of the product and a parameter relating to the user as the product is scanned along the scanning path from the entry point to the exit point, the parameter comprising a measurement of the hand of the user; a universal product code, UPC, scanner; a plurality of illumination units (202, 204, 206, 208) located at the entry point, the exit point of the scanning path, parallel to the scanning path and perpendicular to the scanning path, said plurality of illumination units for providing illumination to guide the user along the scanning path; and a plurality of sensors located along the scanning path at each of the respective points, said sensors configured to sense the event data along the scanning path; and wherein processing the event data comprises determining a control parameter for the POS terminal in response to the event data; and controlling the plurality of illumination units to display a light pattern in response to the determined control parameter, the plurality of illumination units providing active background screens; tracking the user's hand while the user holds the product from the entry point to the exit point through the provision of the active background screens; generating a user alert based on the control parameter and communicating the user alert to the end user. determining a control parameter for the POS terminal in response to the event data; and controlling the plurality of illumination units to display a light pattern in response to the determined control parameter, the plurality of illumination units providing active background screens; tracking the user's hand while the user holds the product from the entry point to the exit point through the provision of the active background screens; generating a user alert based on the control parameter and communicating the user alert to the end user.