Online chess with no screen (moves via sounds or interfaced physical board)? - Chess Forums

b1_

Apr 23, 2011

0

#1

I want to have access to the hordes of online players but I don't want to stare at a computer screen for hours (got some problems with my eyes after 20 years staring at computer screens).

I'd imagine the easiest solution would be a chess site that announced moves using sounds, either some computer generated voice, or some devised code of beeps. Then I could turn off my screen and set up a physical chess board and move the pieces myself.

Another way to do it would be if there were some already existing physical chess computer, like a Novag, that had a USB cable that plugged into your computer to interface with online software.

This'll be good for blind people, too.

Anyone know of any software or hardware like this?

Hypocrism

Apr 23, 2011

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#2

You CAN take a physical chess board, play your opponent's moves on the board and only look at the computer to play your move. The site already makes a sound when your opponent moves.

b1_

Apr 23, 2011

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#3

Hypocrism wrote:

You CAN take a physical chess board, play your opponent's moves on the board and only look at the computer to play your move. The site already makes a sound when your opponent moves.

Yes, of course, but that's only a half solution , and doesn't really work for blitz.

The idea here is to sit down at a physical chess board, perhaps in a favourite room of your house, with no computers in sight, and have access to players anywhere in the world playing online at the time.

I imagine something like the Novag Citrine, only it's wifi enabled, connected to your computer (I can dream).

And who doesn't prefer a physical board anyway.

I'm looking into the screen reader programs blind people use, like JAWS and Window-Eyes; maybe they will work with the Chess.com interface. There's also a chess program called KChess Elite hich apparently works well with Window-Eyes.

mtguy8787

Apr 23, 2011

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#4

http://www.chesshouse.com/dgt_electronic_chess_boards_s/361.htm

connects via usb or bluetooth

However, for using it to play on chess.com or something, the site would have to be specifically designed to interface with a software program on your computer that can connect to the board.

Screenreaders for blind people would be ridiculously slow for a non-blind person.

b1_

Apr 23, 2011

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#5

Thx. Looks good. The list of compatible programs for that board is here:

http://digitalgametechnology.com/site/Boards-with-third-party-chess-programs/which-programs-support-the-dgt-e-board.html

I just found out Fritz has this move announcement voice. Don't think you can connect to the net with Fritz, but looking at that list in that link, some of them are internet chess GUI's, surely one of them has move anouncements. Maybe using Babaschess on FICS and the DGT board?

Then all you would need is some way to communicate with your internet opponent without the use of the computer - maybe an inbuilt microphone :).

HGMuller

Apr 23, 2011

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#6

WinBoard for JAWS will allow you to do this. It is designed for the blind, really. But it is dependent on the JAWS screen reader for pronouncing the move. Blind people must have a screenreader to use a computer anyway. JAWS is not free,but you can usually load demo versions that do the job.

With WinBoard you can log on to FICS, where at any time there are usually hundreds of people looking for games. Blind people usually type the moves; there is no voice input.

b1_

Apr 23, 2011

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#7

I may not need to use a screen reader, maybe. I've just been testing Fritz with move announce on, and entering moves via keyboard, screen off. Not quite working because I'm not versed in keyboard entry yet, but it worked. Might be able to do that with Winboard or Babaschess (haven't explored those programs yet).

I found this review of the DGT-E board on Chessville.

http://www.chessville.com/reviews/software/dgt_electronic_board.htm

It looks like the DGT is made for physical board internet play according to this review. The DGT board comes with move announce audio files aswell but not recommended for blitz. The clock displays the moves as well. I want one of these, $500 though.

I may be able to do this on the cheap. You can buy cheap $10 USB chess boards apparently. Here's a thread from this forum from 6 months ago with some guy creating some software to interface with it.

http://blog.chess.com/view/building-a-usb-chessboard-interface-for-lt-10

Or just play on a regular board. All I would need is a internet chess GUI with move announce and keyboard entry. Maybe use a microphone and teamspeak for communication.

Robotvinnik

Jan 25, 2012

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#8

Here is a step by step guide how to build a cheap and easy USB board that allows you to play against Fritz & Chessmaster. Both programs use voice announcements to make their moves while you input your moves via the board. http://usbchessboard.yolasite.com/

b1_

Jan 27, 2012

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#9

Looks good Robotvinnik. However, what I really want to do is play against human players over the internet using a physical board. I notice the software is Winboard enabled, have you tried using it perhaps with Winboard on FICS versus human opponents? (Does Winboard even work on FICS or ICC?)

Robotvinnik

Jan 28, 2012

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#10

Hi

Only used it to play against Fritz & Chessmaster software so unfortunately, can't tell you

jimmy_patterson

Aug 22, 2012

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#11

b1_ wrote:

Looks good Robotvinnik. However, what I really want to do is play against human players over the internet using a physical board. I notice the software is Winboard enabled, have you tried using it perhaps with Winboard on FICS versus human opponents? (Does Winboard even work on FICS or ICC?)

I have use the usb board to play on fic's .

jimmy_patterson

Aug 22, 2012

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#12

You can use there fin java to play.I think no software needed.

Al_Martins

May 16, 2022

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#13

DGT Pegasus is the 2022 answer

b1_