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From: sher@rochester.UUCP (David Sher)
Newsgroups: net.math.stat
Subject: Re: Need tests for random number generators
Message-ID: <5197@rochester.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-Jan-85 03:00:29 EST
Article-I.D.: rocheste.5197
Posted: Wed Jan  9 03:00:29 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Jan-85 01:43:55 EST
References: <553@oddjob.UChicago.UUCP> <467@ecsvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: sher@rochester.UUCP (David Sher)
Organization: U. of Rochester, CS Dept.
Lines: 8
Keywords: RANDOM
Summary: describes test for random number generator

I heard of a test for a random # generator developed at Xerox Park.
The way they tested it was to use it to generate the bits controling 
whether the successive points on a graphics output were black or white
(or some variant thereupon).  If you could not perceive a pattern by
looking at it then your random # generator probably generates fairly
"white" noise.  (The human eye is probably somewhat better than any
easily written computer program at pattern detection).
-David Sher