Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2017 January 11

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January 11

DeepDream and noise

If DeepDream is left trained on the same image for an excessively large number of iterations, does a kind of random noise result? What does that look like? Can you find me an example?  Card Zero  (talk) 18:10, 11 January 2017 (UTC)

I remember reading, perhaps a year or so ago, that in these circumstances it may produce a vaguely face-like image (though with over-large "eyes"), regardless of the starting point. However, I have absolutely no recollection of when and where (internet, print magazine etc) I came across this. Perhaps my less-than helpful answer will prompt someone else's memory. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.122.62.241 (talk) 08:37, 14 January 2017 (UTC)

Lots of things can look "vaguely face-like" - such as the Face on Mars. The phenomenon is known as pareidolia. Mitch Ames (talk) 12:17, 14 January 2017 (UTC)

In fact, Pareidolia#Computer vision actually refers to "... the DeepDream software, which falsely detects and then exaggerates features such as eyes and faces in any image." Mitch Ames (talk) 12:20, 14 January 2017 (UTC)

Watching the longest youtube videos (in terms of number of iterations) that I could find, two of them did resolve to a kind of soup of human-like faces dominated by large eyes (which had a lot of blue-green around them, as if belonging to an amalgamation of animals). So I think you're right, this must be how it typically plateaus to a local maximum. Thank you.  Card Zero  (talk) 14:55, 14 January 2017 (UTC)

"Apple Certified Pre-owned" iPhone

I just bought an iPhone 6S on eBay. It was advertised as new but arrived marked "Apple Certified Pre-owned". What exactly does this mean? Will it be in new condition aesthetically, eg. no scratches? Will it have the same life as a new unit? Etc. Amisom (talk) 22:27, 11 January 2017 (UTC)

Have you tried google? Vespine (talk) 00:30, 12 January 2017 (UTC)

Yes. I didn't find answers to either of the two questions I asked above. Thanks @Vespine:. Amisom (talk) 08:35, 12 January 2017 (UTC)

Not sure why it didn't work for you. When I search for 'Apple Certified Pre-owned scratches' or 'Apple Certified Pre-owned scratch' or 'Apple Certified Preowned scratch' or 'Apple Certified Preowned scratches' or 'Apple Preowned scratch' or 'Apple Preowned scratches' i.e. the logical search terms based on your question I find . As for the second question, these sort of things are generally impossible to answer. I mean some companies have return rates for such devices so have a good idea, but they don't tell it to ordinary consumers. Nil Einne (talk) 01:46, 13 January 2017 (UTC)