Toshiba creates fastest random number generator

The über crypto-geeks in the house just raised all kinds of eyebrows with the announcement of Toshiba's new physical random-number generator, which can pump out 2 megabits per second of random output in a 1,200 square micron circuit size. You're a unique kind of person if this stuff gets your motor running -- or if you actually need 2Mbps of random data on the go. May we suggest Kabbalah, or perhaps a game of Go?

[Ted @ Feb 8th 2008 12:49AM]

It's nice to see how far we've come as a species that we now know how to generate 2Mbps of random numbers. We'll definitely be prepared when the predators begin their invasion.

[LondonConsultant @ Feb 8th 2008 4:53AM]

Just list the dates when Newcastle United managers are replaced - that should provide of 2Mbps of random data...

[sddsfdsf @ Feb 8th 2008 5:09AM]

@Ted: Si tacuisses...

[Mike10010100 @ Feb 8th 2008 6:01AM]

Yes, but at least when the Borg attack, we can lock them out of the main computer with a fractal encryption code......

Or just a bunch of random numbers. That should confuse the heck out of them.

[Tim @ Feb 8th 2008 9:36AM]

A lot of you may be thinking "Why do we need 2 mbits / sec of random data", well keep in mind the one of the best methods of design is through natural selection. If you create enough random data, and set some qualifiers on that data, you can create generations that keep improving upon themselves.
This can be beneficial for vaccines, circuit design, and probably countless other applications (not to mention the whole Shakespeare by monkeys routine).

[hans @ Feb 8th 2008 10:26AM]

And also, remember that heavy encryption and many mathematical algorithms (as simple as calculus) requires much more data than 2Mbps. Although the need for this data to be as random as possible is much more important, this could really mean faster heavy key generation and encryption (for example)

[soviet_vexxer @ Feb 8th 2008 12:54AM]

this is awesome. i always wanted a computer that could randomly open apps uber fast. one step closer.

[MEAT! @ Feb 8th 2008 10:23AM]

Leave your keyboard on your desk. Buy a cat.

What's more, the Mb/s of random crap happening on your computer increases the hungrier the cat gets (to a point).

[BobTurbo @ Feb 8th 2008 12:56AM]

I hope this doesn't mean more kids will use the word.

[soviet_vexxer @ Feb 8th 2008 1:00AM]

i think random must be the new "totally" or "like". damn valley girls are taking over.

[Taylor @ Feb 21st 2008 8:23PM]

That's like totally random...

[Aaron @ Feb 8th 2008 1:00AM]

Loving the Pi reference there. I'm sure soon the teams working on quantum computers will announce their ability to decrypt 2mb/s.

[packgrog @ Feb 8th 2008 10:47AM]

I was just going to make the same comment. Need to see that movie again. Great stuff!

[mike @ Feb 8th 2008 1:03AM]

int rnd_num(void){
return 4;
}

[Ollie @ Feb 8th 2008 1:09AM]

Nerd.

[Mike Nelson @ Feb 8th 2008 1:37AM]

That is a perfectly chosen random number :P

[Darkest Daze @ Feb 8th 2008 5:14AM]

It's sad that failing one class of Qbasic still allows that to be funny to me.

[dreamscape86 @ Feb 8th 2008 1:30AM]

Props for the Pi reference/pic.

[Joel @ Feb 8th 2008 1:33AM]

12:50, press Return.

[Benirose @ Feb 8th 2008 1:34AM]

Hey, who knows. This could be a robot's "free will"

[Joel Stephen @ Feb 8th 2008 4:38AM]

huh...good point

[Mike10010100 @ Feb 8th 2008 6:03AM]

Yes, after the robot kills you, it randomly starts hugging the lifeless corpse.

Then it kicks you in the ribs and then goes to get a cup of coffee.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 8th 2008 9:03AM]

You need a hug?

[ether @ Feb 8th 2008 1:38AM]

Just imagine the number of D&D dice you could roll with this puppy.

Yeah, I went there.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 8th 2008 9:04AM]

That's alright, I rolled a save to your post and it was completely ineffective.

[IndiaTech @ Feb 8th 2008 1:39AM]

Another random post about a random invention...

[BigD145 @ Feb 8th 2008 1:49AM]

It's still not perfectly random.

[Mike10010100 @ Feb 8th 2008 6:06AM]

Yes, but if you had a few iterations running at the same time, and another to chose which iteration's next number will go into the final random number list.

If you had a few levels of that, then its preeeety darn random.

[Tom Oliveri @ Feb 8th 2008 1:56AM]

wow, i look forward to the day when i have one of those in my toaster

[Reader @ Feb 8th 2008 2:20AM]

Most definitely... Never know if your toast will be completely uncooked, charcoal black, or anywhere in between.

[Tom Oliveri @ Feb 8th 2008 3:58AM]

could come out a pancake!

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 8th 2008 9:05AM]

I think your thinking about quantum computing... don't confuse this with random numbers! :P

[Paul @ Feb 8th 2008 1:58AM]

random number generators are a really important part of encryption.

[Tom Oliveri @ Feb 8th 2008 4:08AM]

why the hell would you want your toast encrypted?

[andres @ Feb 9th 2008 1:18AM]

@tom
its pretty obvious, so the government cant use my toast against me in court unless i give them the key

[ethan @ Feb 8th 2008 2:02AM]

12:45....restate my assumptions.


come up with a computer to predict the stock market, then we're talking.

stories like this make me want to drill a hole in my head.

[Danny @ Feb 8th 2008 2:22AM]

Quick question for anybody who knows:

Can software without additional input truly determine a random number or does it instead always use a system clock or similar to abstract a simulated random figure?

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 8th 2008 9:07AM]

A better question would be, Is there truly anything that is random or is it all determined by patterns of electronic signals in molecules.

[m16 @ Feb 8th 2008 2:28AM]

A true and completely RNG is impossible. This technology is actually a pseudo-RNG, as is all other RNG's.

Though I give them some serious credit. A pseudo-RNG of this size and speed is quite an achievement, and most importantly; is more random than even the elliptical curve formulas that are employed today. That is of course if/until someone figures out a pattern with this new noise based RNG.

[KarlW @ Feb 8th 2008 3:20AM]

noise is defined as being random. By definition, it has no pattern.

Its about the only thing in nature that is random. Pretty much everything else I can think of has some fairly macroscopic pattern.

People can't generate random numbers. And certainly not at 2mbps. The machines kicked our collective ass today.

[KarlW @ Feb 8th 2008 3:24AM]

oh, thought of another random thing. Radioactive decay. But then, that's linked to noise.

[m16 @ Feb 8th 2008 3:56AM]

White noise is not perfectly random. Something is creating that noise can be defined, its output that we observe to be random enough for our use.

Nothing is ever absolutely random in this cosmos.

[nh @ Feb 8th 2008 5:47AM]

Pedant of the month award goes to m16...

Of course it is more random than a deterministic formula. That is pseudo-random, this is random.

Your argument about it only being pseudo-random is weak, I suppose you would say there's no such thing as free will either?

It doesn't have to be completely random, only random enough that no one could ever predict the next digit, which it is.

[m16 @ Feb 8th 2008 6:02AM]

"Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?" " ;)

[nh @ Feb 8th 2008 7:27AM]

Did Nan-in always use such poorly conceived, messy and downright wasteful metaphors?

The professor HAD an empty cup, but Nan-in filled it up with his own trot, passed that off as the professor's, and then made him take more. That's less zen, more brainwashing.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 8th 2008 9:09AM]

So, I'm supposed to fill my cup with your idea that there is free will?

[nh @ Feb 8th 2008 11:41AM]

Only if that's your destiny.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 9th 2008 10:57AM]

My destiny is to rule the galaxy with my father, for he has the power of The Dark Side, and I have a profound control of The Force.

[david.druckman @ Feb 8th 2008 2:57AM]

Love the image from the film Pi. Cheers to you all at Engadget...

[Magnulus @ Feb 8th 2008 4:11AM]

I'm freestylin'!
Just sayin' what comes into the top of my head!
Like it's... random! R-r-r-random!