Seemingly random activation( implemented using processing)

 
final int collection_size = 16;	// collection size
final int collection_active = 4; // activated count
final int collection_active2 = 8;
int[] collection;

final int circle_d = 40;
final int circle_r = circle_d / 2;
final int circle_gap = 10;

void setup(){
  // size( (circle_d + circle_gap * 2) * collection_size, circle_d + circle_gap * 2);
  size(860, 60);
  
  // Using boring initial condition, the left most x elements are initially active
  collection = new int[collection_size];
  for( int i = 0; i < collection_size; i++ ){
    if( i < collection_active ){
      collection[i] = 1;
    }else if (i < collection_active2){
      collection[i] = 2;
    }else {
      collection[i] = 0;
    }
  }
  
  randomSeed( millis());
}

void draw(){
  // Draw them
  background(0);
  stroke(255);
  for( int i = 0; i < collection_size; i++ ){
    if( collection[i] == 1 ){
      fill(255,0,0);
    }else if( collection[i] == 2 ){
      fill(0,255,0);
    }else{
      fill(0,0,255);
    }
    ellipse( circle_gap + (circle_gap + circle_d) * (i + 1) - circle_r, circle_r + circle_gap, circle_d,circle_d);
  }
}

void mousePressed(){
  for( int i = 0; i < collection_size - 1; i++ ){
    for( int j = i + 1; j < collection_size; j++ ){
      int rnd = (int)random(65536);
      if( rnd % 2 == 1 ){
        int temp_val = collection[i];
        collection[i] = collection[j];
        collection[j] = temp_val;
        println("Swapped:["+i+","+j+"]");
      }
    }
  }
}