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The Rise of the Knowledge Economy
In a valley where TV meteorologists routinely forecast widely scattered sunshine, it should come as no surprise that Greater Palm Springs provides a setting that has inspired some truly bright ideas within its knowledge economy.
Dr. Forrest M. Bird exemplified this culture of innovation in the 1960s, pioneering some of the earliest portable mechanical ventilators for people with acute lung afflictions and replacing primitive and expensive devices like the iron lung. The first mass-produced model, the Mark 7, prominently displayed it was made in “Palm Springs, California U.S.A.” The successor company, global medical device manufacturer BD Respiratory Solutions, still operates here.
The valley’s legacy of innovation can also be found in a landmark civil engineering project: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is noteworthy for its ingenious use of helicopters during construction. The tram’s valley and mountain stations are inspiring showcases of modern architecture, a style that has become synonymous with Greater Palm Springs.
More than a quarter of the region’s jobs are in the diverse knowledge economy and the demand for college-educated workers continues to grow. Experts say the combined forces of disruptive technology, rising minimum wages, and a growing consumer preference for self-service will significantly reduce the number of service-sector jobs over the next 30 years.
“Look at the airlines,” says James Estes, professor of finance at the California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus. “The counters used to be filled with ticket agents, now they’re electronic kiosks. For students in school today, 65 percent of the jobs will be in fields that don’t exist yet. Whatever’s going to happen, it’s not what we expect — because we haven’t yet thought of it.”
The Rise of the Knowledge Economy
The Rise of the Knowledge Economy
In a valley where TV meteorologists routinely forecast widely scattered sunshine, it should come as no surprise that Greater Palm Springs provides a setting that has inspired some truly bright ideas within its knowledge economy.
Dr. Forrest M. Bird exemplified this culture of innovation in the 1960s, pioneering some of the earliest portable mechanical ventilators for people with acute lung afflictions and replacing primitive and expensive devices like the iron lung. The first mass-produced model, the Mark 7, prominently displayed it was made in “Palm Springs, California U.S.A.” The successor company, global medical device manufacturer BD Respiratory Solutions, still operates here.
The valley’s legacy of innovation can also be found in a landmark civil engineering project: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is noteworthy for its ingenious use of helicopters during construction. The tram’s valley and mountain stations are inspiring showcases of modern architecture, a style that has become synonymous with Greater Palm Springs.
More than a quarter of the region’s jobs are in the diverse knowledge economy and the demand for college-educated workers continues to grow. Experts say the combined forces of disruptive technology, rising minimum wages, and a growing consumer preference for self-service will significantly reduce the number of service-sector jobs over the next 30 years.
“Look at the airlines,” says James Estes, professor of finance at the California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus. “The counters used to be filled with ticket agents, now they’re electronic kiosks. For students in school today, 65 percent of the jobs will be in fields that don’t exist yet. Whatever’s going to happen, it’s not what we expect — because we haven’t yet thought of it.”
The Rise of the Knowledge Economy
