Ken_Blackman.INTEGRATION@gateway.qm.apple.com (Ken Blackman) (03/03/91)
Could someone please help me out. I'm not a math wiz, but I think I've
stumbled onto something important, and it looks like it could have some
profound implications for a number of fields.
I call it a Random Filter. The opposite of a random number generator,
this algorithm takes a stream of numbers and removes the random ones, thus
leaving a collection of purely non-random numbers. Here's the simple
version; where the function rand() represents your favorite random number
generator:
loop
n <- input # get next n
r <- rand() # also get a random number
n = r ? # is n itself a random number ?
yes: trash <- n # then toss it
no: output <- n # otherwise keep it
end loop
In other words, the randomness of each n is determined by comparing it to
a number known to be random; all random n's are filtered out. It's just
like that technique of finding prime numbers by eliminating all the
composites. For example, this could be handy for scientific researchers:
now they can weed out any random fluctuations in their statistical data.
Astronomers can get sharper pictures. Physicists can finally get past
that whole Heisenberg thing.
Obviously this technique hinges on having a good reliable source of
randomness to use for comparison. Using a computer-based rand() in the
loop above will only produce PSEUDO-non-random output.
Before you tell me what you think of all this (cough cough), let me assure
you that I have already used it, with fabulously successful results.
Before sending this note, I took the ASCII text and merged it with a file
of geiger readings from some radioactive isotope. Then, using the same
geiger recording as my rand() function (since it was, after all, still
random), I pumped the altered text through a Random Filter and, voila, out
came the original! Pretty amazing, huh?
I can only speculate as to what would happen if I'd had some mechanical
dice roller feeding its results to the computer in real time. With that
degree of randomness at its disposal, the Filter may have corrected my
spelling, cleaned up my grammar, or removed some other imperfections I'm
not aware of. No telling how powerful this technique could be.
Think of what this could mean for areas like data integrity, quantum
physics, radio reception, compiler design, weather forecasting, economics,
structural design, how about racetrack handicapping... the applications
seem virtually limitless.
Well, waddya think? One thing's for sure -- I'm planning a trip to Las
Vegas. Soon as can I figure out how to use the slot machines to beat the
roulette wheel.
------------------------
Late-breaking news: The Random Filter has continued to demonstrate its
value. I applied it to a list of the last six months' winning lottery
numbers. I tried every method and variation I could think of, and the
results were absolute gobbledy-gook: the Random Filter concept simply
could not be meaningfully applied to this set of data. In other words, I
proved conclusively that the lottery is *FIXED* (ie, not random).
Pretty amazing, huh?
Ken_Blackman.INTEGRATION@gateway.qm.apple.com
<or> farkwell@apple.com
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