Writing down moves during a Chess Match

In this day of modern technology when there are big tournaments or matches between grandmasters, why are they still required to take the time to write down their moves. The moves are usually watched & transmitted to different chess sites (sometimes live) so why make players take the few seconds to write down their moves? This occurred to me while watching the current World Cup games. Their games are being televised on the web so why is it necessary? Couldn't they just make their moves, tap the clock & not have to do anything else but play?

There is at least one reason. Nobody can advise a player when he is eligible to claim a 50 move draw.

Maybe Apple has to invent a large Ipad specifically for chess games. Or even an table with a virtual touchpad chessboard. Then moves would be recorded electronically & any 50 move repitition would be automatically announced. They could even build a touch pad chessboard that uses real pieces with sensors in the bottom. I see this happening eventually.

Only the player himself is allowed to figure out when the 50 move rule applies.

That rule could change due to the computer age. Remember there was no Fischer clock 50 years ago. Things change.

Completely missed the rest of the post. Do a search on DGT (Digital Game technology) boards.

http://www.google.ca/search?q=dgt+chess+board&hl=en&source=hp&aq=f&aqi=g3g-v7&aql=&oq=

http://digitalgametechnology.com/site/

Also see http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/usb-chess-board-101

physically writing out the moves gives the player more power 

In my opinion, writing your moves is a huge part of playing chess in a tournament atmosphere.  I would never play in an OTB tournament without a scoresheet and a pencil.  

+1 An excellent reason is that it's simply a part of the game.

I think the secondary reason is: Technology is not perfect! There might be a mistake in the computers notation (once saw a game where it didn't recognise black castled short, it was a sharp sicilian, and the computer didn't like any of the moves)

50 move rule must be noticed by the player (a player who wants to draw, since you'll have to claim it, it doesn't automatically draws), in 3 move repetition you must write down the move you want, and then call the arbiter and claim the draw.

Still think in this high technology age, the act of writing down moves of a game while playing is not needed, let them have scorekeeper to do that. They have scorekeeper in every sport, why not chess?

I think that is a reasonable proposal EvanWarhol to no longer be required to do one`s own recording.

Perhaps writing a letter to the Fide rules committee would have them at least consider the option.

I predict your proposal might even be adopted by Fide eventually.

Maybe our grandkids will think recording your own moves is an ancient custom.

You should not have to move your own pieces is another option worth having a look at.

Its all part of a ritual. Think, think, think, move piece, press clock, write down move, slurp coffee, wipe coffee off shirt, look around for pretty girls, refocus & think about your opponents reply, realise you blundered, resign!!

Quite simple really & no need to change it

Once upon a  time you could add, have a smoke to that.

i always wrote mine down in pictorail. None of the alphamunerical stuff. Most of my books are in decsriptive. 

Exactly. It's like a golf player marking and signing his own scorecard.

Scientific studies have shown that being physically engaged with your activity, be it writing down your own move, physically touching the pieces as opposed to playing only on a computer screen, actually pressing in the chess clock, etc, has a profound effect on the mind.

The energy used in the extreme focus creates power in the mind, body, and spirit. Every true Chess player, Shougi player, and Go player knows this feeling. It is your entire being put forth into a one-to-one battle against your opponent, who is also putting his or her entire being into a battle. It goes beyond the game, fighting a battle not with each other, not with ourselves, but a battle to discover who we really are.

That. Is. Chess.

7 years late, and this is the perfect comment

7 years and 18 minutes late, and yes this is the perfect comment lol