Random Name Selector is a free web app that selects a name randomly from the list you provide it with. You can specify the names of students by clicking the “Change names” button. Next you click on the “Save and share” button to obtain a short URL of the selection tool and its embeddable code.

Finally you click on the “Go” button to randomly select a name. After being selected the app says the name out loud.

Under each name you will find a stopwatch corresponding to 2 and 7 minutes. These can be used to assign duration-oriented tasks to students. For example you could randomly pick a student and ask him to do a particular task for 7 minutes; after his time is up you can remove his name from the list and randomly pick another who will continue the same task for another 7 minutes.

Since the app is a random selection tool, you can use it to randomly select any object from a list after you type it.

Features:

• A user-friendly web app.
• Lets you randomly select names from a list.
• Lets you type in the list.
• Provides shortened URL and embeddable code for the selection tool.
• Lets you assign time durations to your selection: 2 minutes or 7 minutes.
• Similar tools:  Tweetaways, Sorteie and Random Picker, Random Name Picker.

Check out Random Name Selector @ www.primaryschoolict.com/random-name-selector (by MOin from ThumbPress)

Tweetaways is a free tool that helps you select a random winner for any competition you have carried out on Twitter. You start by following Tweetaways on Twitter. Next you obtain a special key which is delivered via direct message on Twitter. Then you enter your Twitter username, the special key, and a passphrase of your choosing on the Tweetaways website.

The site searches all the tweets matching your passphrase and containing your @username ““ duplicate entries are removed. A random winner is selected from all the search results. The winner is posted as an @reply and a direct message to you on Twitter. All that is left for you to do is contact the winner and notify them that they have won.

Features:

• A user friendly web tool.
• Works in a very simple way.
• Helps you select a random winner for draws placed on Twitter.
• No need to enter contestants’ usernames.
• The winner’s username is automatically sent to you via @reply and DM.
• Similar tools: Sorteie and Random Picker.

Check out TweetAways @ www.tweetaways.com (by MOin from ThumbPress)

Online Dice Roller is a free to use website that provides the user with virtual dice. The dropdown menu on the site lets you choose up to four dice. Select the number and proceed to click on the button labeled “Roll”.  This will virtually roll the dices and present their “up” faces to you. The number their faces amount to in total will also be displayed.

If you are need of a quick random number, have a bet placed with a friend, or are playing a dice-requiring board game without any dice, this website can be of considerable help.

Features:

• A user friendly website.
• Lets you generate dice numbers.
• You can choose up to four dice.
• The total number is automatically displayed.

Check out “Online Dice Roller” @ www.dice.miniwebapps.net

Randomiser is a free web service that you can use to randomly select a member from a list. The site’s operation could not be any easier: you enter the list’s items separated by a comma. This is all entered in the text area provided on the site’s homepage. After entering all items, you click on the “>>” button or simply press the ENTER / RETURN key. One of the items from your list will be selected and displayed.

Since the computer algorithm behind the selection will not be made by you, the result will not be biased and random. The site can be helpful in a number of ways for example, while choosing a holiday destination from your favorite ones.

Features:

• Easy way to pick at random from a list.
• No complicated data format is required ““ list items are separated by a comma.
• Lists can be of anything: numbers, words, or characters.
• An item from the entered list is randomly selected and displayed.
• Can be helpful in any situation where you need a random selection.
• Similar tools: Random Name Picker, Random Line Picker, Random Picker and Sorteie.

Check out Randomiser @ www.mathayward.com/randomiser (by MOin from ThumbPress)

Random Picker is a user friendly web service that takes entries from a user and randomly picks one out of them. The site has been optimized for lotteries and draws. You start off by creating an account on the site. Then you add the details of your company including company’s name, location, description, and website. Afterwards you add a project ““ something that will require random selection.

Before entering your participants / draw entries, you have to detail the type of outcomes. For instance you specify what the top prizes are and how much of each prize will be awarded. Draw entries can be uploaded through an Excel file (XLS). With the entries in you can conduct trial draws and then a final draw to achieve the random results.

Features:

• Executes random selection for any type of data.
• Optimized for draws and lotteries.
• Lets you specify the prizes and their quantities.
• Data is inputted as an Excel file of format XLS.
• Similar tools: Random Line Picker, Random Name Picker and Sorteie.
• Also read related article: Blog Contests & Promotions Made Easy With ContestMachine.

Check out Random Picker @ www.randompicker.com (by MOin from ThumbPress)

It works for numbers, words, names or anything else that is in text form. You can also choose to remove leading blank spaces from your items for better results. No accounts to register for and no script to download, it is a simple app that can randomize a list for you within seconds.

However, do note that if you are trying to randomize a large list of items it can slow your computer down.

Features:

• Randomize a list of items.
• List can contain numbers, words or any form of text.
• Automatically removes leading blank spaces.
• No registration required.
• Similar tool: RandomLinePicker

Visit RandomizeList @ RandomizeList.com

Sorteie is a simple random winner selector that lets you draw random winners from your Twitter followers or users who Retweeted a specific URL. All you have to do is enter the number of winners you want to draw. Sorteie then displays the list of random winners and create a permanent URL of the page displaying list of winners and when the draw took place. If you are not satisfied with the results, you can draw again to regenerate the list of random winners.

Features:

• Choose random winners for a Twitter contest.
• Choose a winner from your Twitter followers or users who retweeted.
• Methodology based on Random.org.
• Draw as many times as you want.
• No registration required.
• Similar tool: RandomLine and Random Name Picker.

Visit Sorteie @ www.sorteie.me

The site provides multiple random keys that can be used to protect your system. It supports formats for various protections namely local passwords, web host account passwords, root and administrator passwords, CodeIgniter encryption keys, 160-bit WPA keys, 504-bit WPA keys, 64-bit WEP keys, 128-bit WEP keys, 152-bit WEP keys and 256-bit WEP keys. Also, refreshing the page generates a fresh set of keys.

Features:

• Simple and quick.
• Provides multiple secure password keys that are generated randomly.
• Avoid passwords that can be hacked easily through brute force attacks.
• Supports various password and encryption formats.
• Refreshing the page generates a new set of keys.
• Free, no signup is required.
• Similar Tools: PassPub, EasyPasswordGenerator, StrongPasswordGenerator.

Check out RandomKeyGen @ http://randomkeygen.com

All you have to do is paste a list of names onto provided field and then click on the “Pick Random Line” button. The application will then randomly pick and display the name.

Features:

• Helps you randomly pick a winner from a list of names.
• Save picked names during session.
• Option to pre-randomize the list.
• Similar web tool: Random Name Picker.

Check out Random Line Picker @ www.my-i-p.com/Pick_Random_Line.html (via Lifehacker.com)

The process is simple, just go to the page, paste list of names in to provided field and click on “Typewriter” or “Fruit Machine” button, the application will randomly pick a name and present it to you.

Features

• Random name picker tool.
• Obviously can be used for random word picking as well.
• No sign up or registration needed.
• Two interfaces to choose from: Typewriter and Fruit Machine.
• Free and easy to use.

Check out RandomNamePicker @ www.classtools.net/randomnamepicker