Thoughtful in Selah

This will be a very geeky post yet very interesting to read.



So all those computer geeks out there, here's a new theory to work on. My new life goal is to create a way for computers to truly generate random information (whether numbers or characters or sets of data).

*COMPUTER LESSON 1*
Computers (in programing) have a procedure to produce "random" numbers. This is based on the number of milliseconds that your computer has been on (Called "System Clock"). This number is technically a decimal and then is multiplied and front end estimated to create a possible number between any two numbers that the programmer sets. (e.g. any number can be generated between 7 and 31) Point in case: A "random" number is actually derived from a mathematical algorithm.

So now how do you get a number from a computer with no math? Good question! This is where the impossible theories come in. As soon as my brother asked me this, I spent thirty seconds thinking and came up with a possible solution that would be more random and less logical than the current random function. Allow me to explain with the use of visual aids.

Say you have an array of data...

(don't pay any attention to the symbols (they're actually suppose to be numbers))

Okay this array was "randomly" created using the random function based on BIOS system clock (the mathematical function).(not really - I just typed it up with paint but this is what it would do if using a procedure to do it. That's another point. Forget it....)


Now we use another random function to shuffle and mix up all these numbers. (Again based on BIOS system clock)
Now the numbers are in a new order which the computer does not know because the chronological order does not follow the original stepping of the BIOS algorithm (did I just lose everyone with that statement?) (In english: the new array does not match the pattern used to create it).

So now we have a halfway random list. Now we use a third random function based on system clock to pinpoint a specific number which cannot be predicted by using any sort of mathematical operation because of randomly random order (yes that is random squared). So say our function returns an X and a Y in this array from the top left corner. The point the computer has specified is (11,25) (eleven down and twenty-five right) Yielding...

3. The computer (IN THEORY) has now returned a fully random value using multiple and complex mathematical equations. Obviously it is not fully logical but uses math outside of chronological patterns of a clock. Hence giving randomness no predictability.

*COMPUTER LESSON 2*
"With random information, computers could make logical decisions that would be equivalent to the intelligence of a five year old, which is outstanding."

The most powerful computer on the planet currently has the intelligence equivalency to about a two year old. It can make decisions based on math, not logic. Using random integers (whole numbers) could change this dramatically because a computer could then learn (artificial intelligence). Say a computer is shown many red objects. After a while it is accustomed to seeing and recognizing red objects. After some time it then knows that it's favorite color is red. Now here's the test: present the computer with two objects, one red and one blue. Now here's the random part. Will the computer be logical and choose it's favorite color, or will it be spontaneous and choose blue because it's decision was based on mathematics? Unfortunately, the question cannot be answered. This is an intelligence question far out of range from current progress but once more mysterious and coding secrets are found, these scenarios can become a reality.

*COMPUTER LESSON 3*
Computers have progressed one hundred times faster than humans. Humans had to go from learning how to make sandals and wooden tools to building sky scrapers. Computers have gone from evaluating 1+0+0+0+1 = 2 to working backwards with logarithms like Log(18)x = 271 (which means 18 to what power equals 271). All of what I have discussed here could be a reality very soon in the future.

Remember that all of this is actually imaginary. These are the logical steps to it all. The computer would not actually create a picture for all to see.

I hope you enjoyed my geeky side for the time being. Sorry to all who are now asleep. By the way - this all came about when I built a "Magic 8-Ball" application to "randomly" give answers to dumb questions.