Human assisted randomness generation using video games

Abstract

Random number generators have direct applications in information security, online gaming, gambling, and computer science in general. True random number generators need an entropy source which is a physical source with inherent uncertainty, to ensure unpredictability of the output. In this paper we propose a new indirect approach to collecting entropy using human errors in the game play of a user against a computer. We argue that these errors are due to a large set of factors and provide a good source of randomness. To show the viability of this proposal, we design and implement a game, conduct a user study in which we collect user input in the game, and extract randomness from it. We measure the rate and the quality of the resulting randomness that clearly show effectiveness of the approach. Our work opens a new direction for construction of entropy sources that can be incorporated into a large class of video games.