ABOUT RADIOSHACK TALKING CHESS TUTOR 1900L MODEL 60-2255 ELECTRONIC CHESS

RADIOSHACK TALKING CHESS TUTOR 1900L Electronic Chess Computer - picture taken from box.

TALKING CHESS TUTOR is a chess opponent with a mind of its own. Its voice has been developed to assist and amuse you. It has four personalities you can select from: character, coaching, demonstration, and move assistance. With a vocabulary of over 345 phrases, the tutor can teach and demonstrate, as well as tease and entertain you. This state-of-the-art technology game challenges you with an amazing computerized opponent that plays with skill and cunning.

SPEAKS 345 PHRASES TO COACH, TEACH, AMUSE AND ABUSE YOU!

RADIOSHACK TALKING CHESS TUTOR 1900L Electronic Chess Computer - picture taken from box.

MAIN RADIOSHACK TALKING CHESS TUTOR 1900L MODEL 60-2255 GAME CHARACTERISTICS

• 25 skill levels for beginner to intermediate.
• Special tutorial level designed for new players.
• Human voice announces moves - can be turned off.
• Special vocabulary modes for teaching and coaching, demonstration, assisting visually handicapped players.
• Sensory board automatically records your moves.
• Beginners can take back moves and replay them.
• Computer will suggests moves for you if you wish.
• Memory stores saved positions and unfinished games.
• Uses 4 AAA batteries or AC adapter (both not supplied).
• Dual Power Option - lets you play against this chess opponent anywhere.

MORE ABOUT RADIOSHACK TALKING CHESS TUTOR 1900L MODEL 60-2255

The chess program was written by Dan and Kathe Spracklen, with modification and enhancements made by Ron Nelson to suit the build of the computer.  The Radio Shack Talking Chess Tutor speech technology, the software implementation,  computer design and build are attributed to Ron Nelson.  The same speech technology is also used in all Fidelity Chesster and Kishon computers as well as the Sharper Image Talking Chess Companion and Radio Shack Talking Chess Tutor.

The idea for a new voice computer started in 1989 when as quoted by Ron Nelson “Kathy Spracklen wanted to develop something along the educational lines for computer chess. So she started creating a script of what could be said during a game of chess.”  Nelson received her script and he subsequently presented her idea in a Marketing meeting.  During this meeting the idea of a “Wisecracker personality” was decided upon. 

Nelson explained  “All during the discussion, Teri Everett (the first Chess Challenger sales person hired, after the 1976 Consumer Electronics Show, held in Chicago at the Conrad Hilton Hotel), who is a doodler, showed the impish figure she had doodled on her note pad. It was the graphic we used for Chesster.”

For the voice system Nelson further explained that he flew to meet a Dr. Forrest Mozer who he had met many years previously at the University of California, Berkely during the time when he was first developing the voice used in the early Fidelity Challenger computers.  At that time Dr. Mozer had used his equipment to create the ROM subsequently used in the first speaking Challenger computers.

Dr. Mozer at the time of this meeting in 1989, had started his own Company named Sensory, Inc, now managed by his son.  Instead of using a chip as previously used in the Challenger series, Dr. Mozer now offered a 65C02 software solution.

For the Little Chesster / Talking Chess Tutor, Ron Nelson explained that in order to reduce cost the LCD was eliminated and a single chip Micro-controller Unit (MCU) with external Read-Only Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM) was used. 

As a result of these efforts, Little Chesster / Talking Chess Tutor became a three chip solution which allowed the use of a single sided Printed Circuit Board for further cost savings.

Excerpts taken from the RADIOSHACK TALKING CHESS TUTOR 1900L user manual and box and Ron Nelson reports available at the Hiarcs Forum for further reading and research.

Technical Specification

RadioShack Talking Chess Tutor 1900L (1992)

Box

Computer Label

User Manual

Spacious Mind

Schachcomputer.Info

Active 2017

Tourn. 2015

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-

T1

T2

T3

T4

T5

Final

-

-

-

-

-

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MANUFACTURER

CREDITS

RadioShack/Tandy Corporation

Spracklen/Nelson/Mozer/Everett

1900 USCF

1992

$195,00

Not Available

Year:

MFR ELO:

Original Price:

Wiki ELO:

Model #:

60-2255

My Serial #:

Not Available

Processor OEM

Mitsubishi

Processor:

M50743

Speed:

Type:

8 Bit

2 MHz

ROM:

4 KB 124 KB Talk

RAM:

256 Bytes

Battery Type:

4 x AAA

Power Adapter:

9V D/C 300 mA

Display:

16 Board LEDs

Board Type:

Press Sensory

Overall Size:

Board Size:

8x8 in

10.1/8x9.3/8x3/4

Options Select:

Button Select

Play Levels:

25

Opening Book:

12K Half Moves

Take Back:

128 Half Moves

Position Setup:

Available

Position Verify:

Available

Move Analysis:

Display Info:

Available

Available

Solve Mate:

Mate in 8

Save Game:

Available

Ponder:

Available

Search Depth:

20 Ply Max.

Provide Hint:

Available

Teach Mode:

Available

Change Sides:

Available

Active Level:

TM Level:

A8

Infinite Level:

B1 to F8

A5

Game Features

Matchplay & Test ELO Ratings

Computer Game Rating

Rating Test

Other  Computer Chess Ratings

USCF

USCF

Spacious Mind

Human Rating

USCF

CCR 94

CCNS 94

Ply 94

FIDE

USCF

1904

1888

1919

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Class A Level Electronic Table Top Chess Computer!

Hardware Specification