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Old 11-21-2002, 03:24 PM
BonJoviJones BonJoviJones is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 87
Default Re: Random selection by computers impossible?

I should point out that in a sense he is right: There is no _pure software_ method of generating random numbers. Adding hardware changes that.

A major computer company (SGI?) had on their website a few years back a truly random number generator that was, mainly, a camera looking at a lava lamp.

Intel sells hardware that will generate true random numbers by measuring "thermal noise from a resistor."

I'm sure there are many other examples. There is no good excuse for not using such a system if you need secure random numbers. Of course, that didn't stop Party Poker from using using pure software for generating their "random" numbers... unthinkable...

Interesting, anyway!
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