HOLONET NEWS
IA Pulls R5's Plug
RORDIS CITY, NUBIA - After a year of disappointing sales, Industrial Automaton president Julynn Kentas confirmed that the droid manufacturing giant is canceling production on their R5-series of astromech droids. The droid was originally marketed as an affordable alternative to the higher priced R2. However, cost-cutting measures led to compromises, or what Mechtech Illustrated called "a meter-tall stack of the worst business decisions you could possibly want." IA hopes to recoup losses by reusing existing R5 shells in their moderately successful line of R2-AG and R4 agromech droids. The highly popular R2, R3 and R4 units will continue to see production.
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IA Caps Droid Rocket Warranty at 20 Years
RORDIS CITY, NUBIA - Rescinding previous consumer documentation that guaranteed a "lifetime" of reliability in their after-market astromech hover rockets, Industrial Automaton has now capped the warranty at 20 standard years. This decision affects all optional R2, R3 and R4-adapted leg-bracket and barrel-housed propellant rocket systems. IA is instead recommending feature swap outs after 20 years, regardless of actual logged hours of operation. The decision stems from a costly out-of-court settlement IA paid to a Sump port worker injured by a falling droid.
CEO Julynn Kentas was light-hearted in deflecting media accusations of consumer fraud.
"The term 'lifetime' has always been vague at best," she said. "Twenty years is still a long time. That's almost two Devlikk lifetimes, after all."
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Closing Holonet News
"Call your first witness."
As prosecutor, Panaka called Graf Zapalo to the stand. "State your name please."
"Graf Zapalo, Master of Science." Zapalo answered. "As Master of Science and part of the Queen's Council of Advisors, I am in charge of scientific research on Naboo."
"And you are familiar with the programming of droids?" Panaka asked.
"I am." Zapalo nodded. "It is custom that all droids are personally programmed before they are commissioned here on Naboo."
Panaka then projected the image of an astromech droid. "And do you know what this?"
"That would be astromech droid, R2 series." Zapalo answered.
"And they are used for what purpose?"
"For navigation and repairs of ships and starfighters." Zapala again answered.
"Thank you." Panaka then turned to the tribunal. "I wish to note for the record that all astromech droids on Naboo were manufactured by Industrial Automaton but were heavily modified by the Royal Engineers."
He then turned back to face Zapalo. "What can you tell us about their personalities?"
"Well, it varies from droid to droid, I suppose. Most people don't necessarily understand the way astromechs communicate. According to Industrial Automaton, they were designed to be obliging, quick witted, and sincere. If they are not subjected to periodic memory wipes, they could develop a headstrong, self-reliant disposition."
"Is that the official belief of Industrial Automaton?"
Cogley stood up. "Objection, Your Honors. This man is not a representative of that company and therefore cannot speak on their behalf."
"Sustained." Bibble stated and looked at Panaka. "Rephrase your question, Captain or move on."
"My apologies." Panaka cleared his throat. "Were astromechs here on Naboo programmed to be in any way, sentient?"
"Well, they might certainly act in a way that would be considered sentient in the eyes of many people." Zapalo answered, clearing his throat as he tried to answer as best as possible. "They are certainly designed to be smart, or we wouldn't be allowing them to repair our ships or anything else for that matter."
"But of course, we can't see them as truly sentient beings since they are not paid wages. They are seen more as tools or walking computers." Panaka stated.
"Objection, leading the witness." Cogley called out again.
"Sustained." Sio Bibble stated. "Captain Panaka, we're interest in facts, not theories."
Panaka nodded. "No further questions."
Once Panaka sat down, Sam Cogley stood up and approached Zapalo. "Mr. Zapalo, as Master of Science, you are perfectly aware of how droids function, correct?"
"Yes." Zapalo nodded.
"Tell me, is a droid capable of making a decision?" Cogley asked.
"To an extent, based on available information and the sophisticated AI programming." Zapalo answered.
"Can you explain to us how a droid, based on programming sophisticated programming, more so than an average droid makes a choice?" Cogley asked.
"Well," Zapalo cleared this throat. "Droids usually follow a series of decisions, mostly called a decision tree and with available information, chooses the decision with the least consequences."
"I see. Now, since I am new to this galaxy, I have to admit I wonder why you and everyone calls these machines 'droids' instead of 'robots'. You of course, know what a robot is, yes?" Cogley questioned.
"I do." Zapalo nodded.
"Can you explain the difference between a droid and a robot?" Cogley asked.
"Well, in general a droid and robot mean the same thing. However, the official definition of a droid is 'a mechanical being with a self-aware consciousness, as distinguished from a computer by having a self-contained method of locomotion'." Zapalo explained.
"So, droids can actually be self-aware?" Cogley asked.
"Yes, to an extent." Zapalo nodded.
Cogley brought the image of R2 up for the court to see again. "You are of course, familiar with the schematics of R2-D2, yes?"
"I am." Zapalo nodded again.
Cogley made an adjustment, showing R2 following his upgrade by V'Ger. "This is what was shown when R2-D2 submitted to a full scan following the V'Ger incident. Tell me, does he still resemble the same model of astromech droid that was produced and then bought by Naboo?"
"It does not…" Zapalo admitted as he leaned forward to get a better look. "My word…"
The image and readings of R2 following his upgrade was beyond anything he had seen before. R2's body was more advanced than anything seen in a droid, holding advanced machines that were microscopic in size and the programming for decision making…
It was beyond sophisticated.
There was no tree decision making here.
It looked more like an ocean or even a form of space all on its own.
"R2's programming for decision making goes far beyond simple tree decision making here, Your Honors. What you are seeing are neutral pathways in a complex construct of overlays that are far beyond any form of computer technology ever seen. The ability to obtain and amass knowledge is on a level no organic has ever shown and even then, these overlays are microscopic in size, meaning R2 literally a thousand, no maybe a million little brains inside him now." Cogley stated. "All mixed together and all learning from each other. So not only is our droid friend smart, but he can learn faster than possibly any other astromech droid that has been created. No further questions."
As Cogley returned to his seat, April looked to Panaka. "Do you wish to cross examine?"
"No, your honors." Panaka stood up. "I would like to call Admiral James T. Kirk to the stand."
A moment later, Kirk was at the stand as Panaka faced him. "Admiral Kirk, as the commanding officer of the Enterprise, you were of course present during the V'Ger incident."
"I was." Kirk nodded.
"Can you explain what happened during that time?"
"An alien object of unbelievable destructive power had been detected entering Federation space. It was first detected near the Klingon boarder and destroyed three vessels that had intercepted it. The Enterprise was the only starship with an experienced crew in interception range. With the state of emergency, Starfleet granted me command of the Enterprise and was launched with the intent of intercepting the intruder, we later learned was V'Ger while still at least day's range from Earth." Kirk began.
"And what exactly was V'Ger?" Panaka asked.
"V'Ger was formerly an Earth probe, Voyager 6, part of a series of probes launched from Earth in the late twentieth century. The purpose of each probe was to collect all possible information in any part of space they were exploring and transmit information back to the command center, formerly known as NASA back on Earth. Voyager 6 disappeared in what was called a black hole back then but it was actually a wormhole. It emerged on the other side of the galaxy or even in another galaxy and fell into the orbit of a planet populated by advanced machines." Kirk continued.
"A race of advanced droids, you mean?" Panaka questioned.
"No, a race of machines more advanced than droids. Their origin is unknown and possibly ancient and it's unlikely any knowledge of their possible creators remains. What we do know is that machines perceived the probe as one of their kin, even if it was primitive in their eyes. They discovered its programming to collect all available information, all data possible and then return that knowledge to its creator." Kirk clarified and then continued. "The machines interpreted its programming literally and thus built and integrated the probe into a massive vessel, programming it to return to Earth while amassing all the knowledge possible on its way back. And on its way back, the amount of knowledge it collected was so great that it had achieved consciousness, becoming a living sentient machine."
"How can you say acquiring knowledge helped it gained a conscious?" Panaka asked. "Droids can collect information and not one of them could have possibly achieved a so-called consciousness just by that."
"Because, if V'Ger still was still just a machine, it would not have been plagued by questions, seeking to merge with its creator or even upgrade R2 the way it did. V'Ger evolved beyond its programming and chose to upgrade R2 in the same manner as the machine race did it." Kirk explained.
"A sound story, Admiral but it doesn't answer the main question." Panaka stated.
"Which is?" Kirk asked.
"Why should this astromech droid be given rights as a real person? Upgrades or not, it is only a droid. One of a million that has been manufactured in this year alone. They are built, they carry out their function and eventually they are replaced when a newer model is built." Panaka answered, gesturing to R2.
Kirk frowned but remained silent.
"Organics are born, they grow, they live and they die. Say this one droid is granted rights and lives a full life…Or rather it lives the life span of all of us in this room. What then?" Panaka asked, spreading his arms out in a wide gesture. "Should we start granting rights to other droids even though they weren't upgrade like this one was? No matter how advanced its programming might be, it will still likely degrade without a memory wipe or maintenance. It's personality is a mere algorithm meant to interect with organics, nothing more."
"Objection!" Cogley stood up. "Cause for speculation! He is ignoring the obvious difference!"
"A difference in programming or not it is only programming. Take away that and what is the droid?" Panaka questioned.
"All right, then how about you try mind wiping me?" R2 suddenly beeped and was translated. "Use a mind wiper on me and see where it goes!"