UPS drivers continually enrich the network’s knowledge, adding information like “There’s a dog at 55 Goldfinch Trail who runs off-leash, look out for him.” And they’re not stopping anytime soon, as reported by the WSJ, “At its hub in Louisville, Ky., United Parcel Service Inc. recently rolled out 100 industrial-grade 3D printers to make everything from iPhone gizmos to air-plane parts. UPS wants to find out if 3-D printing centers could shorten supply chains and cut into its $58 billion-a-year transportation business—or give it a leg up in a potentially emerging market for local production and delivery.” Economists theorize that this is how a lot of our jobs will look in the future—still the basics of what we do, just drastically enhanced by network knowledge. The home heart monitor doesn’t replace the doctor, it simply makes it easier for her to do her job. 137
Future of Work, Think Series Page 129 Page 131