Fader Networks: Manipulating Images by Sliding Attributes

This paper introduces a new encoder-decoder architecture that is trained to reconstruct images by disentangling the salient information of the image and the values of attributes directly in the latent space. As a result, after training, our model can generate different realistic versions of an input image by varying the attribute values. By using continuous attribute values, we can choose how much a specific attribute is perceivable in the generated image. This property could allow for applications where users can modify an image using sliding knobs, like faders on a mixing console, to change the facial expression of a portrait, or to update the color of some objects. Compared to the state-of-the-art which mostly relies on training adversarial networks in pixel space by altering attribute values at train time, our approach results in much simpler training schemes and nicely scales to multiple attributes. We present evidence that our model can significantly change the perceived value of the attributes while preserving the naturalness of images.Comment: NIPS 201

Contracting the Facebook API

In recent years, there has been an explosive growth in the popularity of online social networks such as Facebook. In a new twist, third party developers are now able to create their own web applications which plug into Facebook and work with Facebook's "social" data, enabling the entire Facebook user base of more than 400 million active users to use such applications. These client applications can contain subtle errors that can be hard to debug if they misuse the Facebook API. In this paper we present an experience report on applying Microsoft's new code contract system for the .NET framework to the Facebook API.We wrote contracts for several classes in the Facebook API wrapper which allows Microsoft .NET developers to implement Facebook applications. We evaluated the usefulness of these contracts during implementation of a new Facebook application. Our experience indicates that having code contracts provides a better and quicker software development experience.Comment: In Proceedings TAV-WEB 2010, arXiv:1009.330

A Facebook group among postgraduate students: Evaluation results towards learning

Facebook is a very popular social media platform used by a significant number worldwide. There is strong evidence that Facebook may also facilitate learning activities, however there is not much research about the implementation of Facebook as a learning tool in higher education. In our study we investigate the use of a Facebook group among postgraduate students at the department of Informatics of the Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece. In particular, we measured the contribution of a Facebook group regarding four factors: students’ engagement, students’ motivation, students’ collaborative learning and students’ satisfaction. Furthermore, we examined any significant correlations between our variables. This study shows that a Facebook group is able to facilitate learning among students in a positive way and consequently work fairly as a collaborative learning tool

The Role of News on Facebook: Common yet Incidental

On Facebook, the largest social media platform, news is a common but incidental experience, according to an initiative of Pew Research Center in collaboration with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Overall, about half of adult Facebook users, 47%, "ever" get news there. That amounts to 30% of the population. Most U.S. adults do not go to Facebook seeking news out, the nationally representative online majority of Facebook news consumers, 78%, get news when they are on Facebook for other reasons. And just 4% say it is the most important way they get newsHowever, the survey provides evidence that Facebook exposes some people to news who otherwise might not get it. While only 38% of heavy news followers who get news on Facebook say the site is an important way they get news, that figure rises to 47% among those who follow the news less often.

Childhoods and play: Facebook, exhibition and competition

L'objectif de ce document vise à explorer les relations entre le jeu et les enfants dans le contexte contemporain. L'article considère le jeu d'enfants comme pratique significative à partir des nouvelles technologies de l'information et de la communication. Comme les enfants associent Facebook aux jeux, Facebook représente le point central de cet article. Nous traitons les jeux auxquels les enfants jouent, les articulations les plus appropriées entre les enfants, la socialisation et Facebook. Nous proposons d'entrer dans l'univers où les enfants, les représentations, les médias et les adultes entrent en relation. Nous analysons Facebook comme la plate-forme contemporaine la plus importante à partir de laquelle la socialisation, l'exposition et la concurrence sont construites par les enfants.The objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between games, play and children in the contemporary context. The article begins with the consideration of children’s play as a meaningful practice focussing on new technologies of information and communication. Along the research, Facebook was identified as the most important place that children associated with games. That is why, the role that Facebook “plays” is one of the most important focusses of this paper: the uses that our informants report of the most used social network, the games they play and the most relevant articulations between children, socialization and Facebook. It is not our objective to analyse games thoroughly (we will analyse “Farmville” briefly), but to enter the universe in which children, representations, media and adults are related and intertwined. And in this path, we will analyse Facebook as the most important contemporary platform from which socialization, exhibition and competition are built by children as the main subjects of our research.Fil: Duek, Sara Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Université Catholique de Louvain; Bélgic

Attachment styles as predictors of Facebook-related jealousy and surveillance in romantic relationships

This is the post-print of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2012 John Wiley & SonsFacebook has become ubiquitous over the past five years, yet few studies have examined its role within romantic relationships. In two studies, we tested attachment anxiety and avoidance as predictors of Facebook-related jealousy and surveillance (i.e., checking a romantic partner’s Facebook page). Study 1 found that anxiety was positively associated, and avoidance negatively associated, with Facebook jealousy and surveillance. The association of anxiety with Facebook jealousy was mediated in part by lower trust. Study 2 replicated this finding, and daily diary results further showed that over a one-week period, anxiety was positively associated, and avoidance negatively associated, with Facebook surveillance. The association of anxiety with greater surveillance was mediated in part by daily experiences of jealousy

Can the use of a Facebook group in addition to classroom teaching enhance exam success in a Drug Calculations module?

A wide range of literature acknowledges the use of e- and traditional learning in the health professions but further research is frequently recommended to explore perceived benefits (Lahti, Hatonen & Valimaki, 2013; Cook et al, 2010) particularly in the rapidly changing technological environment. Facebook boasts 1.11 billion users; over 61% access this via mobile ‘anytime, anywhere’ (Statistics Brain, 2013). In the United Kingdom an estimated 80% of student nurses may have a Facebook account, with a wide range of informal programme/university specific ‘groups’ available to members for support/advice. As an electronic and mobile learning tool, Facebook offers quick, easy, flexible access, complementing the ‘always on’ behaviours of nursing students today. Aim: To establish if a module specific Facebook group can improve examination success and user satisfaction in a Drug Calculations Examination. Method: Examination scores and feedback questionnaire were used to evaluate exam success and satisfaction of pre-nursing students undertaking a Drug Calculations Module. A 30 student cohort opted in or out of using a Facebook group in addition to classroom teaching. Results: A t-test to the 95% confidence level showed that students who opted in to the Facebook group were more likely to pass on first attempt with a higher mark on their exam; p=0.038. Chi-square testing showed White British students were more likely to opt-in to the Facebook group p=0.000. 90% of group users expressed that it improved their learning experience and would use it again. Conclusion: Facebook groups enhanced student success in their Drug Calculations examination and were a satisfactory option to students who chose to opt in. Students from Black/Black African groups were less likely to use this learning option. Additional research is required into student demographics and use of Facebook groups, along with more robust exploration of student use of Facebook groups for formal/informal educational support/advice