Methods and techniques for use in the operation of a game apparatus or other system for determining an activity level of a user in relation to the game apparatus or other system. The bonding lead comprises an elongate conductive core with a pair of end faces at the extremities of its length. The spin daemon, after receiving a flag monitor request, monitors the flag and, after the flag changes condition, enables the process to be re-scheduled for execution by the computer. The safety latch has a first position wherein the needle is aligned to pass through the needle opening and a second position wherein the safety latch is moved with respect to the housing such that the needle is blocked from movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof by a portion of the safety latch distanced from the needle opening. The object beams are incident to the recording material at a series of angles chosen to provide reflection efficiency over the desired filed of view at the specified wavelength.