Our project aims to create a digitally augmented physical chessboard that allows visually impaired players to experience the physical and social benefits of in-person chess while also retaining the digital assistance features commonly available in online chess. The board is intended to make gameplay easier to understand through features such as move validation, requested hints, audio feedback, visual cues, and automatic game recording.
One of the other main features of the game board is to review games for analysis in a physical setting. We believe one of the best features of online chess is the ability to review games and learn from mistakes. And unless in-person players have an actual coach present during their games, such a feature is unavailable on the most widely known formats of the game.
Overall, the goal of the project is to make physical chess more accessible and independent for visually impaired users without taking away from the physical and social experience of playing with real pieces on a real board.