How to generate a true random number from mouse movement?

Question

How to create a python program that lets users move the mouse anywhere on the screen and generate a random number based on those movements. I am trying to implement this feature

What have you tried? StackOverflow is not a coding service. https://stackoverflow.com/help/how-to-ask — alec_djinn, Jun 28 '20 at 15:43
@alec_djinn I just wanted a guideline as to how to implement it and what is the logic behind it — bashkash, Jun 28 '20 at 18:35
If you want truly random numbers, use `random.SystemRandom`, eg `rng = random.SystemRandom(); x = rng.randint(1, 10)`. — Steven Soroka, Nov 16 '21 at 21:44

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 28 '20 at 16:59

1

You don't need to reinvent the wheel - random.random does a good job in generating random numbers. You just need to re-seed it before each random call. Below, a complex number that represents the mouse position is used as a seed. Of course, the same mouse position will generate the same number.

import pyautogui
import random as r

def rnd_mouse():
    pos = pyautogui.position()
    sd = pos[0]+1j*pos[1]
    r.seed(sd)
    return r.random()


print(rnd_mouse())

Output:

 0.25073497760281793

answered Jun 28 '20 at 16:59

LevB

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what is the purpose of r.seed() and seed() function in general.Also, will it be true random like the website I mentioned.Thanks – bashkash Jun 28 '20 at 18:37
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/22639587/random-seed-what-does-it-do These will be truly random as long as you don't click on the same spot. – LevB Jun 28 '20 at 20:20
can you tell me why did you use 1j*pos[1] here. I read it is for imaginary numbers. Thanks – bashkash Jun 28 '20 at 21:16
The x-axis is real, the y-axis is imaginary (1j*pos[1]). This way, both axes of your mouse position are used in computing the random number. – LevB Jun 28 '20 at 22:21
Lev B I am confused as to why is the y co-ordinate on a computer screen imaginary can you please guide. – bashkash Jun 29 '20 at 09:01
https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/2660523/why-are-complex-numbers-treated-as-coordinates – LevB Jun 29 '20 at 16:49
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra2/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:complex/x2ec2f6f830c9fb89:complex-plane/a/the-complex-plane – LevB Jun 29 '20 at 17:57
The real question is that will this number be true random number? – bashkash Jul 24 '20 at 14:18

How to generate a true random number from mouse movement?

1 Answers1