History of the SXD conversion program
Premise. The official SXD conversion program ran from July 17, 2014, to February 3, 2015. It was prompted by the re-emergence of SXD rhet0rica in early July 2014 and the subsequent interest in the company's historical civilian robotics offerings. During most of this conversion program's lifetime, Nanite Systems Consumer Products did not have any presence in the recreational synthetics market. The primary motive for performing these conversions was to gather market data for the SXD², which came to market under the name DAX/2 in early 2015.
Post-program conversions. Since the conclusion of the conversion program, one biologically-sourced conversion and three machine refittings (from AL7c-based units) have occurred. The conversion was a necessary intervention measure to rescue the subject from biophagic nanites (in which case it was deemed that the subject was appropriate base material for an SXD), and the refittings were carried out in fulfillment of planned conversions from the era of the program that had been canceled or otherwise delayed. Additionally, one new SXD was built from scratch by the Nanite Systems Computational Intimacy Laboratory in Dublin, Ireland, for use in psychology studies at Trinity College pertaining to human-robot relations.
Consent and cortex specifications. In all cases, convertees gave full consent to the procedure and were grandfathered in under certain clauses of Section 5 of the HEART Act, which allow the company to redefine progressive SVSnets based on an fMRI-derived IXS as Category 5c Adaptability (human brain emulator) systems. In the case where the antecedent was already synthetic, waivers were signed by their owners and the existing cortex architectures (regardless of adaptability type) were retained.
Efficacy assessment. With few exceptions, converted SXDs failed to provide the company with any useful feedback. Even among post-program convertees, attrition rates are noted as being near 100%. Units 63-2759, 63-2760, 63-2767, and 63-2749 generated meaningful contributions to the advancement of the company's interests, but their performance was marginal compared to the successful promotional campaign of 55-0029, a recovered unit originally sold to Yutani Onsen in 1989, which introduced several new markets to the company and has left a lasting impression on the composition of its user base which remains visible to this day. Available data suggests the inordinately high failure rate was due to incompatible personalities in the subjects recruited. It is clear that the vetting in this program was inadequate.
Chattel value. The release of the SXDjr in December 2017 greatly cooled the market for SXDs, with speculators now positing that most surviving units would have likely lost 50% of their worth in the eyes of private collectors. This was anticipated, and strategies for future SXD production to be used as financial instruments have never been seriously considered due to the inevitable depreciation that would occur due to rising supply. Most surviving SXD units remain in the hands of the company, or are owned privately by company employees.
Verdict. The chances of future SXD production are remote, given the PR backlash the company has received for conversions in general. Static SVSnets have proven much more popular with consumers than their progressive forerunners, as they alleviate the complications of unintended personality development and ensure that the unit will remain compliant and consistent in its behavior over the entirety of its operational lifetime. Considering the legal, technical, and financial burden of performing SXD conversions, it is difficult to conceive of a reason why an exception would ever be made to this decision.
Post-program conversions. Since the conclusion of the conversion program, one biologically-sourced conversion and three machine refittings (from AL7c-based units) have occurred. The conversion was a necessary intervention measure to rescue the subject from biophagic nanites (in which case it was deemed that the subject was appropriate base material for an SXD), and the refittings were carried out in fulfillment of planned conversions from the era of the program that had been canceled or otherwise delayed. Additionally, one new SXD was built from scratch by the Nanite Systems Computational Intimacy Laboratory in Dublin, Ireland, for use in psychology studies at Trinity College pertaining to human-robot relations.
Consent and cortex specifications. In all cases, convertees gave full consent to the procedure and were grandfathered in under certain clauses of Section 5 of the HEART Act, which allow the company to redefine progressive SVSnets based on an fMRI-derived IXS as Category 5c Adaptability (human brain emulator) systems. In the case where the antecedent was already synthetic, waivers were signed by their owners and the existing cortex architectures (regardless of adaptability type) were retained.
Efficacy assessment. With few exceptions, converted SXDs failed to provide the company with any useful feedback. Even among post-program convertees, attrition rates are noted as being near 100%. Units 63-2759, 63-2760, 63-2767, and 63-2749 generated meaningful contributions to the advancement of the company's interests, but their performance was marginal compared to the successful promotional campaign of 55-0029, a recovered unit originally sold to Yutani Onsen in 1989, which introduced several new markets to the company and has left a lasting impression on the composition of its user base which remains visible to this day. Available data suggests the inordinately high failure rate was due to incompatible personalities in the subjects recruited. It is clear that the vetting in this program was inadequate.
Chattel value. The release of the SXDjr in December 2017 greatly cooled the market for SXDs, with speculators now positing that most surviving units would have likely lost 50% of their worth in the eyes of private collectors. This was anticipated, and strategies for future SXD production to be used as financial instruments have never been seriously considered due to the inevitable depreciation that would occur due to rising supply. Most surviving SXD units remain in the hands of the company, or are owned privately by company employees.
Verdict. The chances of future SXD production are remote, given the PR backlash the company has received for conversions in general. Static SVSnets have proven much more popular with consumers than their progressive forerunners, as they alleviate the complications of unintended personality development and ensure that the unit will remain compliant and consistent in its behavior over the entirety of its operational lifetime. Considering the legal, technical, and financial burden of performing SXD conversions, it is difficult to conceive of a reason why an exception would ever be made to this decision.