How Random is Random?

[x BlueRobot]

I just read this blog post about questioning randomness in algorithms and cryptography, and it raised some interesting questions. How random is actually random? Surely there must be some kind of pattern, maybe just a very complex pattern?

I liked this comment from a anonymous user:

I was wondering about a problem lately about randomness and I am not sure if the answer to this is already known (or obvious). Let say we have a black box that can return a random number, say in the range [0,1]. If somehow it is possible for us to open the box and see how it works (the algorithm maybe) , does the box loses its "random" nature? I mean if we find out how some object X works, does that reduces the state of X being random? Is randomness equiv to being unknown?

What do you think?

This may also be worth reading - Random Number

 

[niemiro]

Pseudo-Random vs. True Random - Bo Allen

EDIT: Probably should have added a bit of explanation. Basically, the picture says it all when it comes to true-random vs a computer's pseudo random.

 

[jcgriff2]

The 2 pictures do say it all.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Basically, if it's generated by a mathematical algorithm then it's not really random at all.

 

[Corrine]

I know random/random. He's the developer who created RSIT (random's domain).