Randomness
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=== Introduction === | === Introduction === | ||
| − | One important fact that may elude the reader has to do with the invention of computer languages such as BASIC. Early in its design, a computer language resembles the blueprint of an empty building. Like architects, its authors must choose elements which will be part of the architecture permanently and which ones will be left out. In a building, certain elements must be included: hallways, bathrooms and staircases. In a computer language, these requirements can be formalized as the "Turing complete" criteria: branching and comparison. With these mathematically minimal necessities, any computer program is possible, even if it is very tedious. The advantage of programming languages, like BASIC, is that they facilitate programming through higher-level combinations of those simpler elements. This is like adding elevators, escalators, porches and skylights to a building: they are not absolutely necessary to use the building, but they greatly facilitate it. Therefore, it is worth asking of BASIC "Why did it include a random number function? What is it facilitating?" This chapter explains random numbers, differentiating different types of randomness. Then, it looks at the historical inception of the RND function for generating random numbers and some of randomness's uses. | + | An essential element of 10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1));: GOTO 10 is randomness; the program could not have anything like the same effect without it. The program uses randomness that is built in to the Commodore 64's BASIC programming language via the RND function. And the RND function is not special to the Commodore 64; it was present in the original Dartmouth BASIC. Furthermore, it's not just Commodore 64 BASIC that supplies random numbers. There are capabilities for generating random numbers that are provided by the kernal (which is used by BASIC) and by the sound chip, the SID. It's randomness all the way down. Producing randomness is a fundamental capability of the Commodore 64 and of modern computing. |
| − | Does carefully applied randomness help everything run smoothly? Does the extension of random methods into the home through home computing and its accompanying literacy campaign constitute a defeat of the unpredictable? How and why is randomness used in the arts? This chapter scrutinizes the meaning of randomness beginning with its entrance into our language, following its introduction into everyday language through the fields of science and art. Finally, it shows the inversion of randomness meaning from unknown into mundane. This demonstrates that the maze pattern which emerges from 10Print is not merely an artifact of its random process, but a confluence of the randomness with other structural elements, such as the terminal. | + | This chapter explains what random numbers are, differentiating different types of randomness. Then, it looks at the historical inception of functions for generating random numbers and some of randomness's uses. Some questions that are considered include: Does carefully applied randomness help everything run smoothly? Does the extension of random methods into the home through home computing and its accompanying literacy campaign constitute a defeat of the unpredictable? How and why is randomness used in the arts? This chapter scrutinizes the meaning of randomness beginning with its entrance into our language, following its introduction into everyday language through the fields of science and art. Finally, the chapter discusses the inversion of the meaning of randomness from unknown into mundane. This demonstrates that the maze pattern which emerges from 10 PRINT is not merely an artifact of its random process, but a confluence of the randomness with other structural elements, such as the terminal. |
Since chance is hap, the root of happy, it would seem that randomness, a type of chance, might have a happy etymology. Not so. Likely ancestors of the word "random" are found in Anglo-Norman, Old French, and Middle French and include ''randoun, raundun, raundoun, randon, randun,'' and ''rendon'' -- words indicating speed, impulsiveness, and violence. These predecessor words are found beginning around the 12th century and probably derive from ''randir,'' to run fast or gallop. Bumper stickers implore drivers to "practice random acts of kindness," but only because people in our culture fear random acts of violence so much that another phrase has become so ingrained that it can be punned upon -- and at a deeper level, perhaps, because the speed and violence of other vehicles are to be feared. While today it might be harmless for us to encounter "a random" (a person unknown to us, according to the Jargon File) sitting in the computer lab exploring a system at random, a "random encounter" centuries ago was much more likely to resemble a violent random encounter in ''Dungeons & Dragons.'' For instance, it could have been a figure on horseback hurtling through a village, trampling and slaughtering whoever he can reach. | Since chance is hap, the root of happy, it would seem that randomness, a type of chance, might have a happy etymology. Not so. Likely ancestors of the word "random" are found in Anglo-Norman, Old French, and Middle French and include ''randoun, raundun, raundoun, randon, randun,'' and ''rendon'' -- words indicating speed, impulsiveness, and violence. These predecessor words are found beginning around the 12th century and probably derive from ''randir,'' to run fast or gallop. Bumper stickers implore drivers to "practice random acts of kindness," but only because people in our culture fear random acts of violence so much that another phrase has become so ingrained that it can be punned upon -- and at a deeper level, perhaps, because the speed and violence of other vehicles are to be feared. While today it might be harmless for us to encounter "a random" (a person unknown to us, according to the Jargon File) sitting in the computer lab exploring a system at random, a "random encounter" centuries ago was much more likely to resemble a violent random encounter in ''Dungeons & Dragons.'' For instance, it could have been a figure on horseback hurtling through a village, trampling and slaughtering whoever he can reach. | ||
