Ergonomics or HCI

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erixchess

I'm not good at playing chess in the computer, when I play a game here I set the pieces in a real board, see the position, make a decision and then go back and make the move in the computer.

I've tried online blitz chess and I hang pieces all the time, even though I'm not a beginner and I'm not a bad player, I blame it on ergonomics since this doesn't happen when I play "live" chess with a chessboard.

I really think that ergonomics (or HCI) have a lot to do with it, somehow I can't see chess well in 2D.

Do any of you experience the same?

DrawMaster

I've read more than one legitimate literature reference implying that you should stare at your real board, then input the moves into the computer. Certainly, if you WILL be playing OTB chess, this is a wise practice. Indeed, most psychological studies corroborate practicing under the same conditions that you wish to perform in (e.g., listen to the same music while testing that you use while studying). However, only LONG games are truly practical in this regard as you will surely lose on time trying to play on two surfaces at the same time, though perhaps the first 20 moves of long BLITZ might be accomplished in this manner.

Short answer: Yes, I see it. And probably to some degree, we ALL see the effect.

staggerlee

This is a very real occurance, except for me, it was the opposite!  THere's not a lot of people I know who want to play chess, so I mostly play online.  Then when I play OTB, I make stupid mistakes I wouldn't make if I was looking at a 2D diagram!

artfizz
erixchess wrote:

I'm not good at playing chess in the computer, when I play a game here I set the pieces in a real board, see the position, make a decision and then go back and make the move in the computer.

I've tried online blitz chess and I hang pieces all the time, even though I'm not a beginner and I'm not a bad player, I blame it on ergonomics since this doesn't happen when I play "live" chess with a chessboard.

I really think that ergonomics (or HCI) have a lot to do with it, somehow I can't see chess well in 2D.

Do any of you experience the same?


If you think 2D representations are problematic, you should try 2.5D (sometimes referred to as 3D ). Pieces hide behind other pieces. As with 2D, the view of the board is static.

One method of simulating a physical chess board is to use the flip board option to change your perspective. If there was a j'adoube option (on 2D) - or the pieces were not always aligned perfectly centrally on the square, that would provide additional sensory information.

The style of the pieces is also a factor (and this applies to physical chess sets too). Some sets are so unfamilar that it's next to impossible to distinguish what the individual pieces represent.

There is always the (expensive) option of making your moves on a physical chessboard and having them transmitted automatically into chess.com. (It wouldn't cope well with too many games at once).

Conside also ...

How to improve my vision of the board?

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/otb-chess-vs-internet-chess

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/opinions-on-novag-obsidian