Artificial Womb

Artificial wombs are able to incubate Human fetuses and stimulate birth, removing the need for live birth. The advantages of artificial wombs include the ability to regularly monitor health and provide automatic and manual medical support if needed. Used alongside specialised Stem Gene Therapy, artificial wombs allow gay couples to have biological children.

Discovery

The first use of artificial wombs are suggested to have occurred during an era called Before Land, where the majority of humanity lived on ships rather than on land. Historians suggest it was an advantage for crewmates as it allowed for a more efficient crew during a dangerous lifestyle at sea. The technology to create them was lost however, as the world's data became lost due to [UNKNOWN ERROR]. Materials to maintain the existing artificial wombs became scarce then an unreliable variety. Just over one hundred years ago (530 AL) before the main storyline begins (630 AL), did the new era technology reinvent the artificial womb. This version, known as BetaHub, was used in the Federation exclusively, until the design was stolen and sold to international markets. Only at 610 AL did a new updated version of an artificial womb known as 'A-Care 610' became widely available and affordable worldwide, which has radically affected the lifestyles of humans. BetaHubs and A-Care 610s have regular software and hardware updates.

Access/Availability

Different nations and cultures have varying access to the BetaHub or A-Care 610. In Edgard any registered citizen has full and unlimited access to any A-Care product, and culturally it is fashionable to use an artificial womb rather than become pregnant. Families in Edgard prefer to have up to three children, as houses and apartments tend to be very small and childcare costs are very high. In Cantari, it is more fashionable to give birth rather than use an artificial womb, however use of the A-Care 610 has become more common in some areas of the empire. The BetaHub is widely disregarded and viewed as unsafe, however.
In the Federation, any couple of any orientation, or a single parent with a volunteer donation, may have one free use of the BetaHub. Second use of the BetaHub is very expensive, and tend to exclusively be used by the rich. The more affordable A-Care 610 has not been licensed for use in the Federation states and therefore may not be used officially. In the less regulated East Federation, A-Care 610s can occasionally be found, which has led to discreet tourism. The new parent(s) may pretend they adopted a new child from the poorer parts of the continent, with documents that are easily forged.

Manufacturing

The BetaHub is manufactured in the Federation states, such as Brivanne and Fanfarom. The A-Care 610 is manufactured in Edgard, Taru, Cantari and other nations.

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Inventor(s)

Jonathan Stuart hoped to help families from all backgrounds when he and his team invented the A-Care 610. Instead, he met difficulty after difficulty. First the scientific papers were rejected. After many board meetings and a great deal of effort, the paper was accepted only for the product to fail licensing. After several following bureaucratic issues, Jonathan Stuart publicly left his home and licensed his work in Taru . Many of his staff came with him and A-Care Industries was created. Many scientists from other backgrounds in the Federation left shortly after, feeling they have suffered similar problems, including prominent scientist Dr Fresh. Taru and Edgard have become technological hubs of the world, with other popular locations such as the Southern Islands also becoming attractive options due to their natural beauty and the convenience of virtual staff meetings through Holo.