A Monkey Experiment

Summary

A monkey experiment to test the "Infinite Monkey Theorem" resulted in a meaningful hundred-word story, proving the theory that random typing could eventually produce coherent text.

Abstract

The article describes an experiment where an Orangutan was trained to type on a computer to test the "Infinite Monkey Theorem," which posits that a monkey typing randomly would eventually create a work of literature. Due to time constraints, the experiment aimed to produce a hundred-word story instead of a longer text like Shakespeare's works. The Orangutan typed continuously into its old age, and after its death, the researcher found a coherent story among the typed text. The article also provides a link to a related piece on NPR's website that discusses the theorem in more detail.

Opinions

The author appears to be fascinated by the "Infinite Monkey Theorem" and its implications.
There is a playful tone in the author's approach to the experiment, as they chose to work with an Orangutan and aimed for a modest goal of a hundred-word story.
The author seems to appreciate the irony that the reader has just finished reading the very story that was the outcome of the experiment.
By linking to a more detailed discussion on the theorem, the author encourages readers to explore the concept further, indicating a belief in the theorem's intrigue and importance.

To produce a hundred-word story

I wanted to test the theory that says given infinite amount of time, a monkey typing randomly on a computer keyboard would eventually produce works of Shakespeare.

I didn’t have infinite amount of time, so I reduced the goal of the experiment. How about producing a meaningful hundred-word story?

So I got a baby Orangutan and trained it to type on a computer and let it loose. The Orangutan kept typing well into its old age and died one day.

When I scanned the computer for anything that resembled a story, I found one.

You just finished reading it.

This story is based on the “Infinite Monkey” theorem and you can read more about it here:

A Monkey Experiment

To produce a hundred-word story

The Infinite Monkey Theorem Comes To Life

It's called the infinite monkey theorem, and it goes something like this: Given enough time, a monkey randomly striking…