Re: Separate threads of random numbers
- Posted by Dan Moyer <DANIELMOYER at prodigy.net> Apr 11, 2002
- 416 views
Or use some portions of the output of a webcam pointed at a busy street, or, of course, at a lava light :) Dan Moyer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kat" <gertie at PELL.NET> To: "EUforum" <EUforum at topica.com> Subject: RE: Separate threads of random numbers > > On 10 Apr 2002, at 16:57, Rod Jackson wrote: > > > > > Andy Serpa wrote: > > > > > > > Looks good, but will this avoid any algorithmic pitfalls? I.e., > > > > one thread in 100 finds a quirk in the psuedorandom algorithm > > > > and continually brings up the same number over and over? Stuff > > > > like that can be a headache.... > > > > > > > > > > That's the sort of thing I need to avoid, and is the reason for > > > separating the threads. Under the proposed system, how would the same > > > number keep repeated itself? Could you detail the possible "chain" that > > > > > > worries you? > > > > Well, just off the top of my head... > > > > Thread #5 might have a unique, "problematic" seed value to start > > out. This seed value will generate a random number like usual, and > > of course the next number could then be used as the new seed. This > > new seed will then generate a new random number, but then the next > > number is the same as the ORIGINAL seed value. That number then > > replaces the new seed, so in essence the seed just keeps switching > > between two numbers. > > <snip> > > I have often wondered why people don't look to nature for random numbers. > There, i was just wondering it again! Like, take a random weather reading > from a list of locations around the world, perform random math on it with a > reading from another location, or a random number of random readings. Or > against the 3D location in the sky of a random planetary body. Even if one > cannot do this in real time, one can bank the readings for use as needed, or > as seed values in conventional random number generator. This would give > you values no one has control over, and are unlikely to be repeatable. Scope > might be a problem, or significant digits, so loop the random math operations > untill you get the digits (altho this will put you somewhat at the mercy of the > math chip peculiarities). > > Kat >