Author: Robert Hyatt
Date: 21:38:52 05/23/02
Go up one level in this thread
On May 23, 2002 at 18:00:04, José Carlos wrote: > I'll try to make my point again. My english is also not very good, and I'd >prefer to discuss in spanish, but since a spanish-german debate would not be >very useful, I'll try to say it in english. > If I understand you right (correct me if I'm wrong) you try to find a solution >for the actual situation of FIDE refusing computers in official tournaments. And >you say (I'm not informed about this) that FIDE rejects programs because they >say they cheat "reading" books. > Now, it is a very important point for the discussion whether you agree with >FIDE or not. If you agree, then I'll try to exaplain why I think they're wrong. >If you don't, then we should try to find a way to make them understand. > > José C. This is not the current state of affairs. Years ago FIDE passed a resolution allowing computers to play. The problem was that the entry fee was ridiculous for anybody but (say) an IBM. $10,000 is the figure I remember to allow a computer to play for one year in FIDE events, although the event organizers had the right to say "no" still. I don't know whether this rule is still in force or not. Computers have not been excluded because they "cheat". The problems with computers in human events are well-known: 1. noise. The machine is not quiet, programs like to beep, keyboards click, fans whirr, power supplies hum, crowds gather around the monitor (which whines) to see the output, etc. As a result a separate room is usually needed to move the computer noise out of the main playing hall. 2. rules such as the USCF rule that says any player may, prior to the first round, notify the TD that they do not want to be paired against the computer. This causes pairing problems in later rounds and also skews the final tournament results badly. I could write volumes about this as I was right in the middle of such an event with Cray Blitz in 1981. More if you want. 3. computers (in the old days when this was an issue) required phone lines to communicate with the actual machine playing chess (IE a Cray for us). 4. there are always "anti-computer" people present at events. They complain, groan, accuse, etc, making the TD's life miserable. There was once a USCF group that called themselves "Citizens against Computers". It doesn't take much for a TD/organizer to say "no way". It happened all over the US in the 1980's...
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