Lab 9 – Million Monkeys with Typewriters

10:00pm, Sunday, April 30

You may work with a partner on this assignment.

In this lab, you will use hash maps to generate pseudo-random text.

The purpose of this lab is to:

Have you implement a hash map using the separate chaining method,
Use your hash map in your implementation of a Markov model, and
Use your Markov model to generate amusing text.

The starter code is here. Lab9.zip.

We provide you with the following code files, which you will need to edit:

MyHashMap.java
MarkovModel.java

You will need to create, implement and submit the following files:

TestGenerator.java
MyHashMapTests.java

We also provide you with the following files for testing:

big-bang-theory-series-1.txt
buffy-season-1.txt
doctor-who-series-1.txt
drseuss.txt
example.txt
friends-season-1.txt
mlp-season-1.txt
republican-debate.txt
shakespeare.txt
sotu-bush.txt
sotu-obama.txt

Motivation

In this lab you will design and implement an order k Markov model from a piece of input text. Sounds scary? It isn’t. Basically, we’ll use these Markov model things to read in a sample text, then generate a new random text based off the sample. For example, the sample text may be a compilation of work by Dr. Seuss, which contains content such as

Would you like them here or there?
I would not like them here or there.
I would not like them anywhere. 
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them Sam-I-am. 
Would you like them on a house? Would you like them with a mouse?

Our Markov model will read in all of Dr. Seuss’ fine work, then will generate random text in Seuss’ style, such as

That Sam-I-am! That makes a story that needs a comb? 
No time for more, I'm almost home. I swung 'round the smoke-smuggered stars.
Now all that cart! And THEN! Who was back in the dark. 
Not one little house Leaving a thing he took every presents! 
The whole aweful lot, nothing at all, built a radio-phone. 
I put in a house. I do not like them with a goat. 
I will not eat them off. 
'Where willing to meet, rumbling like them in a box. I do not like them all! 
No more tone, have any fun? Tell me. What will show you. 
You do not like them, Sam-I-am! And you taking our Christmas a lot.

As you can see, our random text certainly resembles the original in spirit, although it may not make a whole lot of sense.

First, we need to implement a hash map!