Imagine a chessboard where the pieces move on their own, gliding across the squares with mechanical precision, as if guided by an invisible hand. It might sound like a scene from a futuristic movie, ...

A whole chess set was translated into wearable accessories in this prototype by French designer Louis Le Joly Senoville, a fan of the game who wanted to make it possible to play anywhere at any time.

Think chess, and chances are a certain, generic set of images will come to mind: that of stout, rounded-headed little pawns; crenelated towers for the rooks; the split mitre of the bishop; horses' ...