3 ms·
I'm honestly curious why any non-smart thermostat would need a PRNG. Can you give examples why it would be needed? I'm assuming my thermostat is a input-output
by quiescant_dodo 6y ago
I'm honestly curious why any non-smart thermostat would need a PRNG. Can you give examples why it would be needed?
I'm assuming my thermostat is a input-output machine where the input is detected ambient temperature (computed internal to the device) and the output is either RUN_FURNACE or DO_NOT_RUN_FURNACE.
- garmaine 6y agoMany boring, everyday algorithms employ random choice or blinded inputs to prevent worst case execution.
- alanbernstein 6y agoThough I'm sure that's true, a simple thermostat can be built without any electronic components at all, using only the simplest of analog mechanisms, so it's hard to see how it's relevant.
- 317070 6y agoWell, these days they are actually often connected to the internet. That on its own requires prngs.
- carlmr 6y agoI think the point was that if they're fast enough to connect to the internet they will be fast enough to calculate PRNGs. If they're not connected to the internet, they don't need them.
- raverbashing 6y agoSo it needs a PRNG, but not a cryptographically secure one
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]