Re: A82: Re: Random routine - human reaction times
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Re: A82: Re: Random routine - human reaction times
That's how I got the seed for SameGame
~Adamman
In a message dated 12/6/99 1:20:01 PM Eastern Standard Time,
barubary@home.com writes:
> Here's a simple way to handle this problem of not having a random enough
> seed.
>
> Have a high-density counter count continuously from the time the cards are
> displayed to the time that you reveal the first card. When the first card
> is revealed, THAT'S when you randomize them, using the counter as a seed.
>
> Human reaction times, especially when measured with a very fast (Z80 is
fast
> enough) counter, are basically random.
>
> PGP uses this fact when you generate a secret key for yourself - that's why
> it asks you to type crap stuff. It's timing how long you take between each
> keypress. A 1 millisecond difference in your typing speed will cause a
> difference of 1000 (assuming a 1 mhz counter, which is about right in
> multitasking environment) in the random numbers - that's extremely good.
> PGP doesn't even care which keys your press (especially because that's
> "human-random").
>
> -- Barubary