Written on December 2, 2008 – 10:48 am | by Maria Mihale |


Asking people which technological invention they could never live without, I’m sure that most answers will refer to the computer. It’s understandable, if you think about it, as this device managed to replace right about everything, combined with the Internet: direct human communication, entertainment, shopping, all sorts of games, it’s all virtual nowadays.

I remember the days when my uncle taught me to play chess. It was the first time for me to see a wooden chessboard and I was so fascinated that I just couldn’t let it go for a couple of weeks. Moving the pieces all around the chessboard gives you the feeling of being there, in the middle of the action, and helps you better understand what happens when you’re queen gets caught by the enemy and what you should do in order to get it back.



The only bad thing is that, outside the chess group I’ve joined in the fifth grade, I didn’t actually had the chance to improve my technique. And when I started to find people willing to play this game, it was a little bit too late, because what I’ve known to be the real chess game has already been replaced by the virtual version, played on the computer. Hey guys, come on, what happened to the physical chessboard?



For all of you out there, who are nostalgically dreaming about the days when you had to feel the pieces whirling between your fingers before making the victorious move, here’s the Glo Chess. Yes, it has nothing to do with the common chessboard that you all know very well, still it’s a chessboard you can put your hands on. You don’t have to click on a piece in order to check the king.

The Glo Chess, designed by Adam Craft, is one interesting design that brought the designer an award in the Student Design Contest held by Velcro. This miniature chessboard is based on an innovative technology, called Conductive V30 VELCRO, bringing the game to a stunning new level and creating a unique board with illuminated chess pieces.



Under each side of the board, there is a storage compartment that is designed to hold each player’s pieces which can be deposited in there, as they are removed from the game. Another advantage is that, eliminating the need for cords, you have also the possibility to activate the battery-operated mode. Opening the case, the conductive material placed on each side of the case’s spine makes contact.

This is a concept chessboard, for the moment, so there is no word about price and availability.

(Source: YankoDesign.com)