NIST announced it is seeking a new cryptographic hash algorithm to replace or extend the existing SHA-2 family of algorithms.
The existing algorithm is described by the FIPS PUB 180-1 standard.
I am exploring whether or not such a new algorithm might be devised that uses, at least to some extent, new approaches to fulfill the requirements for NIST cryptographic hash algorithms rather than simply extending SHA-2 by modifying the number of rounds executed, the bit length of the final digest result, or the order/mix of bitwise compound operation performed per round.
I am sure that I am not the first to wonder about new approaches to this problem so maybe the current approach is the best that can be found.
I'll keep exploring the concepts just for the hell of it....
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Feedback in Decision Support Systems
We monitor cell phone communications coming from certain parts of the world with the hope of detecting terrorist plans or intentions. They learn of this so they switch to other forms of communications. The question this raises is an old one.
How does or can the act of observing affect the behavior of the things being observed?
This question can be re-framed with regard to decision support system or decision analysis in which case the question becomes, in a much more indirect sense, how are the predictions inherent in generating data presented to users to aid in decision support affected by the ultimate decisions that are made based on them as those same predictions and decisions are made repeatedly over time?
In simpler terms, when does, if it does, the tail begin to wag the dog?
If it does, then how can such decision support systems compensate or dynamically adapt such that predictions remain valid and in fact become more accurate over time?
How does or can the act of observing affect the behavior of the things being observed?
This question can be re-framed with regard to decision support system or decision analysis in which case the question becomes, in a much more indirect sense, how are the predictions inherent in generating data presented to users to aid in decision support affected by the ultimate decisions that are made based on them as those same predictions and decisions are made repeatedly over time?
In simpler terms, when does, if it does, the tail begin to wag the dog?
If it does, then how can such decision support systems compensate or dynamically adapt such that predictions remain valid and in fact become more accurate over time?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
.NET CLI-RE vs Java JRE Why 2 VMs?
We now have two major virtual machines in the form of the .NET Common Language Runtime environment and the Java Runtime Environment
Why not develop a single open source virtual machine?
Or better yet, a common interface between VMs and operating systems, such that any VM can be plugged into any OS using said interface.
And while we are at it, why not a common interface between VMs such that any VM RE can be plugged into any other runtime environment.
Why not develop a single open source virtual machine?
Or better yet, a common interface between VMs and operating systems, such that any VM can be plugged into any OS using said interface.
And while we are at it, why not a common interface between VMs such that any VM RE can be plugged into any other runtime environment.
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