Randomness
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Computers using Ethernet -- almost all of those that are plugged into wired networks -- communicate with one another thanks to randomness, too. All systems on a single local area network send information over the same wire. If two of them start sending at the same time, what is known as a "collision" occurs; the data sent is not intelligible to the intended recipients. When a collision happens, a sending computer that detects the problem, sending a jamming signal and trying to restart the transmission. But instead of restarting immediately, it chooses at random to start or wait -- and the other computer that was trying to send does the same. If there is another collision, the computers either send immediately or wait for one of three intervals. The increasing number of intervals is part of the technique of exponential backoff; the selection of one of these intervals at random is an essential part of this method of avoiding network congestion. | Computers using Ethernet -- almost all of those that are plugged into wired networks -- communicate with one another thanks to randomness, too. All systems on a single local area network send information over the same wire. If two of them start sending at the same time, what is known as a "collision" occurs; the data sent is not intelligible to the intended recipients. When a collision happens, a sending computer that detects the problem, sending a jamming signal and trying to restart the transmission. But instead of restarting immediately, it chooses at random to start or wait -- and the other computer that was trying to send does the same. If there is another collision, the computers either send immediately or wait for one of three intervals. The increasing number of intervals is part of the technique of exponential backoff; the selection of one of these intervals at random is an essential part of this method of avoiding network congestion. | ||
| − | A typical computer user of the 2010s will also encounter randomness when playing certain computer games. Certainly, randomness will be used when playing card games such as poker or solitaire, to shuffle the deck, and will be invoked to arrange jewels and tiles in casual games. Randomness may also be used to determine the behavior of computer opponents, whether one is playing poker or chess. And some action, arcade-style, open-world and other games incorporate randomness in other ways as they determine what happens. Many early games and certain contemporary ones are entirely deterministic, however. As those who discovered and exploited <i>Pac-Man</i> patterns know, that game is deterministic; <i>Ms. Pac-Man,</i> in contrast, uses randomness. | + | A typical computer user of the 2010s will encounter randomness in many computer games. Randomness will shuffle the cards in poker or solitaire, for example, and will be invoked to arrange jewels and tiles in casual games. Randomness may used to determine the behavior of computer opponents, whether in poker or chess. Some action, arcade-style, open-world, and other games incorporate randomness in other ways to determine what happens. Many early games and certain contemporary ones, however, are entirely deterministic. As those who discovered and exploited <i>Pac-Man</i> patterns know, it is deterministic; <i>Ms. Pac-Man,</i> in contrast, uses randomness. |
== The Commodore 64's RND Function == | == The Commodore 64's RND Function == | ||
