Fascinating article. Reminds me of a sci-fi story from 1958 called "Business As Usual, During Alterations". The premise is that aliens introduce a "matter dup

Fascinating article. Reminds me of a sci-fi story from 1958 called "Business As Usual, During Alterations". The premise is that aliens introduce a "matter duplicator" to human civilization that can instantly duplicate any item. The relevant quote: > This morning, we had an economy of scarcity. Tonight, we have an economy of abundance. [...] This morning, you and the lieutenant were selling standardization. Tonight, it's diversity. With the rise of 3D printers and the availability of electronic components, etc., how long there's a wave of "artisanal technology"? I look forward to buying a smartphone from a nattily dressed gentleman with a handlebar moustache and a solder-stained apron.