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 > > Expertise is not knowing everything, but knowing what to look for. > > 1454 Miracerros Loop South, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 > TEL: (505) 983-7728 FAX: (505) 983-1694 > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A/Prof Russell Standish Phone 0425 253119 (mobile) Mathematics UNSW SYDNEY 2052 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Australia http://www.hpcoders.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
