[Nursie]

If we take silence as indicative of lack of knowledge, then nobody needs to speak.

  Bernard: Silence (he doesn't know the answer)
  Albert: Silence (he doesn't either)
  Bernard: I know it!

Interestingly it then becomes relevant who was silent first.

Basically it's nonsense.

[sukilot]

If you assume Albert and Bernard are identical computers running identical programs, then it isn't nonsense. And that's not just a gimmick , timing analysis is how some side-channel attacks work in crypto.

[Nursie]

Of course it's nonsense.

If we can deduce the answer from silence then there's no need for any of the information given in the question, it's not a logic puzzle it's bullshit.

I don't assume Albert and Bernard are anything, if you've made assumptions beyond what's stated in the question then you've done it wrong.

And yes, I understand timing oracles.

[anigbrowl]

Thank you.