Re: [XPOST] A unique number for every "person" - can it be done?

From: infobahn (infobahn_at_btinternet.com)
Date: 03/08/05 

Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 03:30:56 +0000 (UTC)

TGOS wrote:
>
> The problem can be summarized in one sentence:
>
> Calculate a number for every human being, company and organization on
> earth, that is guaranteed to be unique till the end of time.

I finally thought of a way of doing this, that should be good enough
for your purposes.

Step 1: Roll 128 ordinary eight-sided dice, as in the example displayed
at http://uk.geocities.com/infobahn@btinternet.com/uniqnum.jpg
Step 2: reading 8 as 0, write down the result as a 128-digit octal
number.
Step 3: convert to binary. This gives you a 384-bit random number, R.
Step 4: Encode your surname (or a phonetic transliteration thereof)
in ASCII. Do not use the @ symbol in your encoding. Call this encoding
C.
Step 5: Create the bitstring @C@R@C@ (note that R is exactly 384 bits,
so this encoding is reversible, should that be necessary).
Step 6: Base-64-encode this bitstring. This is your unique identifier.
Step 7: Put the base 64 encoding in your sig block.
Step 8: Post at least one article to Usenet.

I invite the statisticians amongst you to calculate the chances of
a collision just for the 384-bit number (Birthday Paradox applies,
of course). The purpose of encoding the surname is of course to make
assurance of non-collision doubly sure.

(Note: Usenet is *not* a central database or registry. Also note that
surnames are generally not considered private data.)

If you forget your unique identifier at any time, simply search any
good Usenet archive.

Tada!

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