Human beings, version 2.0

Faster, better, smarter. No, not humans, but perhaps everything else. In a world of the always improving and never-ending upgrade, it's possible that human beings are getting left behind.

As workers get more expensive and equipment gets cheaper, the combination is encouraging companies to spend on machines rather than people. Dan Mishek of Vista Technologies in Minnesota, which makes plastic products for equipment manufacturers, told The Times: "I want to have as few people touching our products as possible."

Vista spent $450,000 on new technology last year, reported The Times. During that time, it hired two new workers, whose combined annual salary and benefits are $160,000. And, "you don't have to train machines," Mr. Mishek said.