ottarrus
Cosmic Mongoose
Something to remember:
Agent of the Imperium portrays TL 12-13 personality overlays using wafer technology as having a hard limit of 30 days wear. Once you reach that threshold any further wear will severely damage the neural pathways and can result in catatonia. This is in addition to the manufacturer lifespan limitations on 'free' clones [clones who don't have personality overlays and are intended as the 'heir' to a sophont in case of death].
I base the 'TL-12-13' estimate on two basic facts that are clearly stated in canon: In Year Zero, Cleon's Imperium was TL 11 in common technology and edging into TL 12 as 'high tech'. And canon sources are very clear that during the Solomani Rim War Imperial forces were a mature TL 14 and achieved a stable and deployable TL 15 during the War. Since Agent of the Imperium discusses events between 300 and 750, it's reasonable to extrapolate that by Margaret II's reign, the 3-I had achieved a mature 13 and TL 14 was 'high tech' insofar as consumer goods were concerned.
It would be reasonable to extrapolate that by TL-15 [roughly Year 1000], personality overlays via wafer were more stable and able to be worn longer. However, I can't imagine the Imperial government allowing such technology to leave its control. Even if someone knows that personality overlays via wafer jacks is possible, there's still a HELL of a long road to follow on that research trail. And you can bet your last Imperial Credit that the 3-I has most high-tech companies infiltrated with scientists who 'make a little extra on the side' by letting the Imperium know what's cookin' in the lab.
Agent of the Imperium portrays TL 12-13 personality overlays using wafer technology as having a hard limit of 30 days wear. Once you reach that threshold any further wear will severely damage the neural pathways and can result in catatonia. This is in addition to the manufacturer lifespan limitations on 'free' clones [clones who don't have personality overlays and are intended as the 'heir' to a sophont in case of death].
I base the 'TL-12-13' estimate on two basic facts that are clearly stated in canon: In Year Zero, Cleon's Imperium was TL 11 in common technology and edging into TL 12 as 'high tech'. And canon sources are very clear that during the Solomani Rim War Imperial forces were a mature TL 14 and achieved a stable and deployable TL 15 during the War. Since Agent of the Imperium discusses events between 300 and 750, it's reasonable to extrapolate that by Margaret II's reign, the 3-I had achieved a mature 13 and TL 14 was 'high tech' insofar as consumer goods were concerned.
It would be reasonable to extrapolate that by TL-15 [roughly Year 1000], personality overlays via wafer were more stable and able to be worn longer. However, I can't imagine the Imperial government allowing such technology to leave its control. Even if someone knows that personality overlays via wafer jacks is possible, there's still a HELL of a long road to follow on that research trail. And you can bet your last Imperial Credit that the 3-I has most high-tech companies infiltrated with scientists who 'make a little extra on the side' by letting the Imperium know what's cookin' in the lab.