And its engineers revealed a host of ideas including desks that recognise users and match their ergonomic requirements, widespread gesture control and online content that queries itself.

BBC: Inside Microsoft's house of the future

Australia's Westfield, one of the world's biggest mall owners, has been closing the customer-service desks at some of its 47 U.S. malls in recent years, including, recently, the one in Trumbull.

WSJ: Apps Reorder the Job Landscape

Banks including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and others began winding down their prop trading desks early on before the much of the rule was finalized.

FORBES: Top JPMorgan Prop Trader Leaves To Launch Hedge Fund