Comments on: Start-up generates random numbers from space

Jeffrey Manber explains technology behind Yuzoz, whose name itself was generated using cosmic events such as solar wind.

[rvanas78]

Why?

Perhaps I am ignorant of something, but I really dont understand why this service would be useful to individual users? Why do I need to fill my life with random numbers from space "for fun"? Maybe it's just me, but I believe I was given the ability to make up random numbers on my own.

[paulreid99]

Does it take a long time?

Doesn't it take a long time to go all the way to space to get a random number?

I think I'll stick to the one generated by the milliseconds on my system time. I know it's only pseudo-random, but it has the advantage of taking less than a millisecond to come back, which, I believe is crucial for these games they're discussing, which may do many random number calls per second.

[amadensor]

Why randomness is useful

It is often used in encryption. The more random the numbers are, the more secure the encryption is. This would be one way of using an external source to help ensure that your encryption was good for instance for doing online banking.

As PC's get faster, it takes less time to crack encryption. Having a seed number that is very hard to guess helps.

[Robbo75]

Here's Why.

For many mathematical and statistical purposes, you want purely random generated numbers - meaning numbers without any sort of repeated pattern. This allows you to trigger events at non-predictable intervals, like the random chance that you'll find a treasure or encounter a monster or hit or miss in a video game. However, there are an infinite number of easy ways to achieve random sequences that are free or very cheap so it's an interesting model to charge people for numbers generated by non-sensical events.

[J_Satch]

They Should...

...combine their technology with a random number generator that uses the sound frequencies of farts...

Gives a (w)hole new meaning to the phrase "solar wind"!

And if anybody ever cracks it, they could be said to have broken wind!

:)

[ralfthedog]

Prime numbetrs from space!

I want a system that will generate very large prime numbers from space. The only question I have is, "Will the aliens be able to spoof the solar wind and give me a key they know?" :)