It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:29 pm

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Offline
 Post subject: 21st century travel boards
Post #1 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:33 am 
Lives in gote
User avatar

Posts: 308
Liked others: 54
Was liked: 71
Rank: EGF 5k Foxy 2k
Alcantara? Some kind of modern plastic? Vinyl? Silicon? Brushed steel? Carbon fibre?

We need inventive, strong, light go boards that can be rolled, folded or separated into parts, and slipped inside shoulder bags and taken to the coffee shop or to the park.

I'm not saying that the boards should be crass or hard to use. They should of course be kept plain and minimalist and preferably kaya-coloured, tasteful, good quality, and anti-slip.

What's out there at the moment? Anything from China, Korea or Japan for example that we don't know about? It would be a nice fit for the set of Ing stones that, after a long time, I managed to source (much to Ed's coveting I'm sure).

_________________
12k: 2015.08.11; 11k: 2015.09.13; 10k: 2015.09.27; 9k: 2015.10.10; 8k: 2015.11.08; 7k: 2016.07.10 6k: 2016.07.24 5k: 2018.05.14 4k: 2018.09.03 3k: who knows?

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #2 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 4:19 am 
Beginner

Posts: 15
Liked others: 4
Was liked: 3
Well here are some examples of different Go sets for traveling.

First the classic portable magnetic set:
https://gobutiken.se/go-spel/go-spel-magnet-set-large-med-vaska

Full size non magnetic roll up set:
https://www.go-spiele.de/en/travel-go-set.html

Magnetic roll up set (yes you can put it on your fridge if you feel like it):
https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Single-Convex-Plastic-Stones/dp/B000JHSORK

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #3 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 4:39 am 
Lives in gote
User avatar

Posts: 308
Liked others: 54
Was liked: 71
Rank: EGF 5k Foxy 2k
Thanks for the links! But I'm talking about something a bit more... je ne sais quoi. This type of thing is opinion-based of course.

The Amazon link I don't think is a full-size board, the other two are full size but are sets (I'm talking about boards specifically).

Magnets aren't my bag. In my opinion, the board shouldn't be Teflon; it should help the stones stay in place from the occasional coffee shop passing-thigh mishap, yet at the same time I don't think stones should ensconce themselves. It takes something away from the experience I think.

Keep the links coming though. It's good to seek out new things.

For example, has anyone used the Surface Pro keyboard, specifically the ones that are coated in Alcantara? This is a suede-type of fabric, like half way between suede and untreated leather. This is a very cool material to make a board out of.

_________________
12k: 2015.08.11; 11k: 2015.09.13; 10k: 2015.09.27; 9k: 2015.10.10; 8k: 2015.11.08; 7k: 2016.07.10 6k: 2016.07.24 5k: 2018.05.14 4k: 2018.09.03 3k: who knows?

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject:
Post #4 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 4:45 am 
Honinbo
User avatar

Posts: 8859
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Liked others: 349
Was liked: 2076
GD Posts: 312
Quote:
It would be a nice fit for the set of Ing stones that, after a long time, I managed to source
:twisted:
Very happy with the set here, already a decade(?), and should last more than one lifetime, with proper care. :-|

Aerogel is basically air, but currently too brittle:

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #5 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:30 am 
Beginner

Posts: 15
Liked others: 4
Was liked: 3
Jujube wrote:
Magnets aren't my bag. In my opinion, the board shouldn't be Teflon; it should help the stones stay in place from the occasional coffee shop passing-thigh mishap, yet at the same time I don't think stones should ensconce themselves. It takes something away from the experience I think.


Well I'm not sure how you want the stones to stay in place exactly, but it sounds difficult to make the stones unmovable in any practical way if youre using regular stones.

However if youre not using regular stones there is this board I stumbled across:
https://www.go-spiele.de/en/blind-go-set.html

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #6 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:57 am 
Lives in gote
User avatar

Posts: 308
Liked others: 54
Was liked: 71
Rank: EGF 5k Foxy 2k
I guess what I'm saying is, grip. Imagine running your finger across a mat made of rubber or the kind of material that pen grips are made of. So it's not that they are unable to move, absolutely they should be able to move, after all it is a normal Go board.

But if you were to pick the board up and lean it by 15 degrees, or if you were to knock the board, then it would be more resistant to disaster than if you were to have a board made of veneer.

Which indicates that the ideal material would be silicon, apart from the fact that I have never seen a silicon board with all the Google-fu in the world that I liked the look of, that was crease-free, and that could be used on an irregular surface.

_________________
12k: 2015.08.11; 11k: 2015.09.13; 10k: 2015.09.27; 9k: 2015.10.10; 8k: 2015.11.08; 7k: 2016.07.10 6k: 2016.07.24 5k: 2018.05.14 4k: 2018.09.03 3k: who knows?

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #7 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:16 am 
Gosei

Posts: 1625
Liked others: 542
Was liked: 450
Rank: senior player
GD Posts: 1000
At a US Go Congress many years ago I saw two visiting Japanese pros playing on a board made out of imitation suede leather. It was very attractive to look at, better than shiny vinyl, the material was thin enough that it could be rolled up or folded, it held its shape and didn't crease when folded, and the suede surface held the stones in place. The grid of lines was "official" size. I asked where I could get one like that but the pros didn't know. It had been a gift from someone in Japan. Of course the major negative of such a board is that it has to be on a table at least the size of the board. I think it might be fairly easy to get this kind of material and have the grid printed on by silk screen or inkjet print.

Back in the day when you bought a set of yunzi stones it came with a cloth board, a garish yellow color. It would be relatively easy to have a go board grid silk screen printed on cloth. The problem with that sort of board is the cloth creases and doesn't hold its shape after being folded.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #8 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:17 am 
Lives with ko
User avatar

Posts: 172
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Liked others: 235
Was liked: 77
Universal go server handle: fireproof
I've always admired this roll-up wood chessboard:

Attachment:
File comment: Roll-up chess board
roll-up-wood-chessboard.png
roll-up-wood-chessboard.png [ 489.45 KiB | Viewed 9558 times ]

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #9 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:00 pm 
Lives with ko

Posts: 125
Liked others: 124
Was liked: 42
In some ways, it might be simpler to donate a decent, full-sized go set to your local coffee shop.

_________________
And the go-fever which is more real than many doctors’ diseases, waked and raged...
- Rudyard Kipling, "The Light That Failed" (1891)

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject:
Post #10 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:21 pm 
Honinbo
User avatar

Posts: 8859
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Liked others: 349
Was liked: 2076
GD Posts: 312
Quote:
might be simpler to donate a decent, full-sized go set
Yes, some stores are happy to keep a set; others may lack the capacity ( spatially or logistically ).
There's also something to be said about the effort for members to bring their own sets every time ( like an equipment bag of tennis rackets, balls, towels, etc. ). But some may not be bothered. As usual, YMMV.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #11 Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:44 am 
Lives in gote
User avatar

Posts: 308
Liked others: 54
Was liked: 71
Rank: EGF 5k Foxy 2k
I like these boards. (Yes, I know, they're chess boards).

Board 1: made in Slovenia. Limited run.

Board 2: made in America. Expertly machined by the looks of things. I've seen one in person and you can't even tell it's made of 4 parts.

I guess options are limited then hmm? A shame, even the silicon mats with a Go board printed on them aren't scratching the itch. The designs are wonky, or the co-ordinates include the 'I' character and so end at 'S', or the coordinates are printed right to left instead of left to right.

If I had a woodshop or a 3d printer I'd be in there right now making the best damn travel board money could buy.


Attachments:
phpDxbICe.jpeg
phpDxbICe.jpeg [ 170.07 KiB | Viewed 9499 times ]
the-stack-chessboard-21184592705_grande.jpg
the-stack-chessboard-21184592705_grande.jpg [ 11.18 KiB | Viewed 9499 times ]

_________________
12k: 2015.08.11; 11k: 2015.09.13; 10k: 2015.09.27; 9k: 2015.10.10; 8k: 2015.11.08; 7k: 2016.07.10 6k: 2016.07.24 5k: 2018.05.14 4k: 2018.09.03 3k: who knows?

This post by Jujube was liked by: Bonobo
Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #12 Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 7:42 am 
Lives in gote

Posts: 532
Liked others: 1
Was liked: 136
Rank: 13k
Jujube wrote:
We need inventive, strong, light go boards that can be rolled, folded or separated into parts, and slipped inside shoulder bags and taken to the coffee shop or to the park.


I would be delighted to find all manner of go equipment that has been adapted to modern times: boards, bowls, stones, traveling cases. The thread’s recent image of the folded quad chess boards gets close to a practical go board format. It could be covered with your Alcatraz material or silicone. If the board were made of magnetic material, steel weights inside plastic stones (in the ING style but much thinner) would have a bit of grip while adding satisfying mass. Bowls? I’m surprised there are not 3D printed goke. A sturdy cubic box that holds square bowls, plastic weighted stones, and unfolds into a nice board could be practical and interesting. Go is a micro niche so such a cool thing might cost $1,000.

I must add, however, that I don’t care much about the aesthetics of traditional go equipment. I enjoy my shell/camphor/purpleheart set tremendously and I’m working on building a 2” maple board. But, these things don’t allow me to play any better than I every have. Truly, I can play my best 15-10kyu games using any (reasonable and practical) markers on any suitably gridded surface. And I can play without diminishing my enjoyment or damaging my sensitivities. Go is not a lifestyle or consciousness building exercise for me, it’s just a fascinating pastime. But I understand others’ skills and devotion may require or prefer a particular look and feel.

Emerging materials, new manufacturing technologies, and objective, unprejudiced industrial designers will someday provide us with new and unusual go equipment—stuff we haven’t thought of yet. We just need someone with access to unlimited funding, boundless mechanical resources, inexhaustible creative energy, and all the time in the world.

_________________
David Bogie, Boise ID
I play go, I ride a recumbent, of course I use Macintosh.


This post by bogiesan was liked by: Jujube
Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #13 Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 12:25 pm 
Lives in gote
User avatar

Posts: 308
Liked others: 54
Was liked: 71
Rank: EGF 5k Foxy 2k
Great points! I'm all for traditional equipment, I have a brilliant Kurokigoishi set that means I'll never need another home-based Go set as long as I live, but at the same time, I praise emerging material design in such a way that could benefit the Go community in as much as expanding our reach to the public through equipment that can be durable, exciting, easy to use, and beautiful at the same time.

_________________
12k: 2015.08.11; 11k: 2015.09.13; 10k: 2015.09.27; 9k: 2015.10.10; 8k: 2015.11.08; 7k: 2016.07.10 6k: 2016.07.24 5k: 2018.05.14 4k: 2018.09.03 3k: who knows?

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #14 Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:46 pm 
Lives in gote

Posts: 418
Liked others: 9
Was liked: 83
Rank: kgs 5 kyu
KGS: Pio2001
Hello,
We have had some goban made in neoprene in France : http://www.jeuxdumonde.com/product_info ... ts_id=7694

The printing is nice, and they can be rolled without loosing their shape. They are standard sized, but very light.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #15 Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 4:31 am 
Lives in gote
User avatar

Posts: 308
Liked others: 54
Was liked: 71
Rank: EGF 5k Foxy 2k
Very interesting! Does it float? You could have a game in the swimming pool, until it sinks from the weight of the stones :)

How is it to play on? Slippery or not bad?

_________________
12k: 2015.08.11; 11k: 2015.09.13; 10k: 2015.09.27; 9k: 2015.10.10; 8k: 2015.11.08; 7k: 2016.07.10 6k: 2016.07.24 5k: 2018.05.14 4k: 2018.09.03 3k: who knows?

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #16 Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 4:57 am 
Beginner

Posts: 15
Liked others: 4
Was liked: 3
Jujube wrote:
I guess what I'm saying is, grip. Imagine running your finger across a mat made of rubber or the kind of material that pen grips are made of. So it's not that they are unable to move, absolutely they should be able to move, after all it is a normal Go board.

But if you were to pick the board up and lean it by 15 degrees, or if you were to knock the board, then it would be more resistant to disaster than if you were to have a board made of veneer.

Which indicates that the ideal material would be silicon, apart from the fact that I have never seen a silicon board with all the Google-fu in the world that I liked the look of, that was crease-free, and that could be used on an irregular surface.


Personaly I would not like a board like that since I'm to used to being able to slide the stones quickly across the board when doing things like reviewing games.
However here is a silicon board:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IHA0XW?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #17 Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 9:15 am 
Lives in gote

Posts: 532
Liked others: 1
Was liked: 136
Rank: 13k
Pio2001 wrote:
Hello,
We have had some goban made in neoprene in France : http://www.jeuxdumonde.com/product_info ... ts_id=7694
The printing is nice, and they can be rolled without loosing their shape. They are standard sized, but very light.


Nice selection of products! I was particularly impressed with the 9x9 teaching case.
http://www.jeuxdumonde.com/product_info ... ts_id=5686

And the tiny table sets. Not possible to find similar things in the States. Hope thes are successful products.

_________________
David Bogie, Boise ID
I play go, I ride a recumbent, of course I use Macintosh.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #18 Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 9:28 am 
Lives in gote

Posts: 532
Liked others: 1
Was liked: 136
Rank: 13k
charm wrote:
Personaly I would not like a board like that since I'm to used to being able to slide the stones quickly across the board when doing things like reviewing games.
However here is a silicon board:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IHA0XW?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details


I’m sure it’s made of silicone.

I think we’re exploring ideas for a portable go set that would use emerging materials and manufacturing technologies. This product would need to be sturdy, fun to use, easy to pack and transport, and, of course, reasonably priced. It would not necessarily attempt to replicate traditional gear or those capabilities although maybe it would be possible and no one has figured it out yet. As with today’s readily available toy-like magnetic sets, the ability to enjoy a game of go when traveling on, say, a moving train, would require the players accept some compromises.

_________________
David Bogie, Boise ID
I play go, I ride a recumbent, of course I use Macintosh.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #19 Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 1:32 pm 
Gosei

Posts: 1625
Liked others: 542
Was liked: 450
Rank: senior player
GD Posts: 1000
bogiesan wrote:
charm wrote:
Personaly I would not like a board like that since I'm to used to being able to slide the stones quickly across the board when doing things like reviewing games.
However here is a silicon board:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IHA0XW?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details


I’m sure it’s made of silicone.

I think we’re exploring ideas for a portable go set that would use emerging materials and manufacturing technologies. This product would need to be sturdy, fun to use, easy to pack and transport, and, of course, reasonably priced. It would not necessarily attempt to replicate traditional gear or those capabilities although maybe it would be possible and no one has figured it out yet. As with today’s readily available toy-like magnetic sets, the ability to enjoy a game of go when traveling on, say, a moving train, would require the players accept some compromises.


The lettering on this board is not proper. The letters ore printed sideways and in reverse order left to right. This makes this board close to unusable when the letter/number coordinates are used.

Top
 Profile  
 
Offline
 Post subject: Re: 21st century travel boards
Post #20 Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 3:11 pm 
Lives in gote

Posts: 418
Liked others: 9
Was liked: 83
Rank: kgs 5 kyu
KGS: Pio2001
Jujube wrote:
Very interesting! Does it float? You could have a game in the swimming pool, until it sinks from the weight of the stones :)

How is it to play on? Slippery or not bad?


Impossible to play in a swimming pool : it is as soft as a piece of fabric.

The grip is the same as a wooden board.

bogiesan wrote:
Nice selection of products! I was particularly impressed with the 9x9 teaching case.
http://www.jeuxdumonde.com/product_info ... ts_id=5686


Yes, we have two of them at the club for animations in various events. We couldn't live without them !

bogiesan wrote:
And the tiny table sets. Not possible to find similar things in the States. Hope these are successful products.


I've never seen them for real. They look very nice.

Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group