Deep Learning

Deep learning is an intensive process that works on a blank brain (one with no prior experiences outside an artificial womb), making extensive use of technologies such as sleep-teaching tapes, learning-enhancing drugs, and virtual-reality sessions to "program" someone with a synthetic set of skills and knowledge. This would be an ideal technology to combine with the accelerated growth of people (clones, bioroids, etc.) using forced-growth tanks or biofabs.

Six weeks of deep-learning socialization can give someone basic life skills. This can take place while a person is growing in a growth or fast-growth tank. It gives the subject control over his own body and the ability to understand and speak one language at Native level.

Up to an extra year and a half can be spent in deep learning; more time imposes too severe a psychological stress. It counts as intensive training, except that there is no HT requirement and it can last 20 hours a day, the remainder being simulated sleep, rest, or play. Thus, someone undergoing it is actually spending 600 hours a month training (equivalent to 1,200 hours of learning). Deep learning can also program a mental disadvantage into someone, with up to -3 points worth every month possible instead of skill training. This sort of programming is not entirely reliable, and may fail at the GM's option.

A deep-learning system requires a Complexity 6+ computer and specialized teaching programs that control the various virtual-reality simulations, drug doses, etc. Programs cost $100,000 for basic life skills, $12,000 per additional skill. Peripheral hardware must also be added to the growth tank, biofab, or forced-growth tank. This costs $400,000 at TL9 or $100,000 at TL10 (due to advances in neural-interface technology), with the cost being halved at TL11 and again at TL12. The fee charged for the deep-learning process itself costs $4,000 per character point or point of disadvantage gained at TL9, halved at TL10, and again at TL11+.