Vis-à-vis Mode — Face-to-Face Translation on a Shared Screen
February 2026
You put a phone on the table between two people who speak different languages. The scrolling translation display shows both sides of the conversation — but one person is reading everything upside down. That's the problem vis-à-vis mode solves.
What Is Vis-à-vis Mode?
Vis-à-vis is French for "face to face." In Live Translate Live, vis-à-vis mode rotates the top row of the scrolling translation display 180 degrees so the person sitting across the table sees their translations right-side up.
Both speakers can read their side of the screen without craning their neck, turning the device around, or moving to sit next to each other. Each person simply reads the row of text that faces them.
How It Works
The Live Translate Live display has two rows of scrolling text — one for each language. With vis-à-vis mode enabled:
- The top row is flipped upside down — rotated 180° so it reads correctly from the opposite side of the table
- The bottom row stays normal — readable from the near side of the table
- Both rows scroll simultaneously — the conversation flows naturally for both readers
Place a phone, tablet, or laptop flat on the table between you. Each person reads the row of scrolling translation that faces them. It's like having a live interpreter built into the table.
When to Use Vis-à-vis Mode
Vis-à-vis mode is designed for any situation where two people are sitting across from each other with a shared screen between them:
- Restaurant conversations — place a phone flat on the table and talk over dinner
- Doctor-patient consultations — set a tablet on the desk between doctor and patient
- Business negotiations — both parties read translations across a conference table
- Parent-teacher meetings — bridge the language gap with a shared screen
- Family dinners — grandparents and grandchildren reading from opposite sides
- Service counters — a hotel, bank, or government office with a tablet between staff and visitor
Essentially, any time two people sit face to face and share a screen, vis-à-vis mode makes the scrolling translation display readable from both sides.
When to Turn It Off
Vis-à-vis mode is enabled by default, but there are times you'll want to toggle it off:
- Side-by-side seating — if both people are sitting next to each other looking at the same screen, you want both rows reading in the same direction
- Wall-mounted TV or projector — when the display is on a wall and everyone views it from the same side
- Standalone marquee on a monitor — presentation-style setups where the audience faces the screen together
Toggling vis-à-vis mode is simple — just open the menu and tap "Vis-à-vis" to switch it on or off. The change applies instantly to the scrolling display.
Try Vis-à-vis Mode
Vis-à-vis mode is included with every Live Translate Live session — no extra cost, no setup. It's enabled by default, so just sign in, choose your two languages, and place your device on the table. Both speakers will see their translations scrolling right-side up from their side.
Translation credits start at just $1 for 15 minutes. No subscription required.
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