OpenEuphoria

RE: Separate threads of random numbers

• Posted by Matthew Lewis <matthewwalkerlewis at YAHOO.COM> Apr 10, 2002
• 371 views

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andy Serpa [mailto:renegade at earthling.net]

> Isn't that how they first did it -- roulette wheels and such?  The 
> results didn't LOOK "random enough" so they invented these 
> algorithms...

Actually, [individual] roulette wheels aren't very random.  They tend to
have very distinct statistical patterns.  I believe that a group from some
university figured out how to measure and calculate these patterns using
computers worn in their shoes, and beat the pants off the casinos.  That's
one reason why they regularly change the wheels these days.

However, I think that now you start to get into the philosophy of random
numbers.  IMHO, it really depends on what you're doing.  If you need totally
secret communications, then a one-time cipher based on meteorological data
might be just the ticket.  If you're generating random outcomes for a GA
process, then a decent PRNG is probably good enough.  You need to look at
the effects and likelihood of prediction and repeatability/patterns.
 
But remember: 1,2,3,4,5 is as likely as 12312,543,23423,245,8907 in a truly
random stream. :)

Matt Lewis