Rnaodm Nmbeurs
From Maze
- DRAFT ******
Introduction
In 10 PRINT CHR$(204.5+RND(1));:GOTO 10, the RND command (pronounced “random”) modulates the output in a stunning way. As may have permeated from other sections of this book, you can imagine how boring the following program would be: 10 PRINT CHR$(204); : GOTO 10 or possibly: 10 PRINT CHR$(205); : GOTO 10
in fact, they would look like this:
It’s alright you say, there are other simple programs to make interesting patterns out there. One might consider printing every Nth block as one possibility, or, more adventurously, using a chaotic system with feedback... but none of these patterns are encapsulated in a single three-letter command which is built into the operating system. This succinctness, this elegance.:
RND
The meaning of the word random varies with time. The appropriation of the term by computer scientists constituted a coup of sorts (or at least a hijacking) in which a sense of the word was rolled, kneaded out, and baked at 350 degrees for 21 minutes. Surely it was not their fault - in the 1940s, who could have anticipated that “random” would become a teenager’s slang term? (You can read this in the 140+ defintions of the word on the website http://urbandictionary )
Random can be an emotional concept. As pattern-seeking creatures, we find patterns and make use of them, remembering and perceiving as much as possible and combing our experiences and those in others' stories in order to thrive. We may even value patterns so much that the thought of anything happening randomly sounds scary or pointless. Even a desperate detective working around the clock believes patterns underlie the assembled evidence. When a pattern is discovered and the killer is caught, that frustration turns to joy as the randomness disappears. Yet, sometimes randomness causes celebration. Particularly when combined with generosity, it leads to surprise. Just the right amount of randomness transports a blues jam deeper into the heart or sparks a random encounter between lovers.
With so many variables in the real world, like late buses, misdialed numbers, and slippery fingers dropping grilled cheese sandwiches into french fry oil, patterns are especially valued because they are so rare. Yet, in a computer, it is quite the opposite. Digital integrated chips, and possibly other computing devices differ greatly from the world in their orderliness.
