Abstract: A system described herein includes an acquirer component that acquires an electronic document that comprises text in a first language, wherein the acquirer component acquires the electronic document based at least in part upon a physical object comprising the text contacting or becoming proximate to the interactive display of the surface computing device. The system also includes a language selector component that receives an indication of a second language from a user of the surface computing device and selects the second language. A translator component translates the text in the electronic document from the first language to the second language, and a formatter component formats the electronic document for display to the user on the interactive display of the surface computing device, wherein the electronic document comprises the text in the second language.