Dama, a traditional Kuwaiti board game, has long been a cornerstone of our cultural heritage. Known for its simplicity and strategic depth, Dama brought people together, fostering social bonds and sharpening minds. It has been a source of joy and a means for players to enhance their decision-making and critical thinking skills. Historically, Dama symbolized more than just entertainment—it was a reflection of community, strategy, and tradition. 

In recent years, Dama has faced a stark decline in popularity, especially among younger generations. This shift stems largely from the digital age, where modern games overshadow traditional ones. Players encounter several challenges, such as:

• Difficulty finding opponents of matching skill levels.

• Limited availability of mentors to teach the game.

• The absence of tournaments to encourage competitive play.

Additionally, the simplicity of the traditional Dama board game struggles to captivate modern audiences accustomed to high-tech digital experiences. This erosion of interest threatens to sever a vital link to our cultural heritage.

Recognizing the urgency of preserving Dama, our team envisioned a solution that blends tradition with technology. The idea was to create a modern, tech-enhanced version of Dama that could engage both seasoned players and newcomers. Our solution involved a robot opponent capable of:

• Playing at various difficulty levels.

• Using reinforcement learning to improve its strategic capabilities.

• Integrating computer vision for real-time board state detection.

• Providing an interactive and intuitive user interface, coupled with a chatbot for enhanced user experience.

This approach not only addressed the challenges but also introduced an engaging, competitive, and educational platform to revive interest in Dama.

Kish, our groundbreaking project, was born from this vision. Developed as part of our engineering capstone at Kuwait University, Kish represents the fusion of Kuwaiti tradition and cutting-edge technology. The project features:

• A robotic arm equipped with precision mechanics for moving pawns.

• AI-driven gameplay to ensure competitive and adaptive matches.

• A seamless user interface designed to attract and retain players of all ages.

Kish embodies our commitment to safeguarding Kuwaiti heritage while embracing modern advancements. By breathing new life into Dama, Kish ensures that this treasured game continues to inspire, educate, and entertain future generations.