[FRIAM] Why "true" random?

[Russell Standish]

Cryptographic applications require true randomness. If your cipher
used on a pseudo-random number generator, then a cracker discovering
your algorithm and key has broken your code.

I also have a hunch that genuine randomness is needed for open-ended
evolutionary systems. Here, the evol algorithm is in the position of
the code cracker, and once the code is cracked, the evol algorithm
stops. I had a workshop paper on this in 2004, which has some problems
with it. The concept is controversial, to say the least.

Cheers

On Sat, Jul 21, 2007 at 10:24:42AM -0600, Peter Lissaman wrote:
> Why is it important (except intellectually) to have "true" randomness???  I very well remember the early, good old, bad old, days of Aerospace, in the 50's, when we were really doing practical earthshattering things -- like going to the moon -- sans computers!!  The RAND corporation, for whom I consulted, published a typed book (size of a Manhattan telephone directory) of "random" numbers  for engineering application.  Much entertainment was occasioned when, about three months later, they distributed a list of "typos" to their original list of random numbers.  Today I use homemade random numbers alla time for real problems, specifically the actual response of real flight vehicles in real atmospheric turbulence.  Flight tests support  analysis, in the sense that what we predict is not obviously incorrect.  We have never found it necessary to utilize any more "perfectly random" "random" sequences!
> 
> 
> Peter Lissaman, Da Vinci Ventures
> 
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