Computer Chess Boards

By the early 1980s, computer software companies and others began selling dedicated chess computers and boards. One of the most successful chess boards was Sidney Samole and Ron Nelson’s Chess Challenger, sold by hearing aid manufacturer Fidelity Electronics. Even though the Chess Challenger program played below amateur-level chess, the novelty of the product made it an instant success.

Some consumer chess boards included interesting features, such as feedback and evaluation, that allowed beginners to improve their game. Boris, a Chess Challenger rival, displayed messages in response to the player’s moves such as: "I expected that."