The Japanese people are longer-lived and healthier than Americans. Currently, that information does more to sell diet books than influence policy or infrastructure development. But research suggests public policy, income and healthcare equality, and the physical and social environment are a big part of what makes Japan healthy.

I recently spent some time catching up on the excellent podcast, Planet Money, and I really enjoyed one episode in particular, Lighthouses, Autopsies and the Federal Budget. The show was about what governments should or shouldn't pay for, but what it got me thinking about, was how huge a role government policy will play in the innovation landscape of the future.

This year, the health team’s research has focused on big data and the world of innovation that it will open up. But while emerging technology will give us much more comprehensive data than we’ve had in the past, it won’t be perfect. Inequality will probably create significant data blind-spots/gaps in the future, because it does in the present and it has in the past. 

The Chinese government is taking a softer, more cuddly approach to marketing its one child policy, according to an article in yesterday's Gaurdian. The shift is definitely a sign of changing times for that country, but I think it has an interesting parallel here in the U.S.

From the article: 

I recently read an interesting article in the Atlantic about the history of how we came to see alcoholism as a medical disease.

When thinking about the future of health, it’s natural to look first at emerging technologies— indeed, part of this year’s Health Horizons research is going to focus on technological innovation. But looking at technology alone misses a big part of the picture. Social innovations, new systems people will use to improve well-being (some driven by technology but some not), are likely to transform health and well-being over the next decade.

Staying healthy can be a lot of work, whether it means remembering to take your meds, keeping track of how much pie you're eating or figuring out how to squeeze a jog in between work and dinner. Last year's Map on the Future of Science, Technology, and Well-being 2020 Forecast, explored how some of the discipline and planning required to get those things done can be off-loaded onto our environment.

I have to admit, I kind of scoffed when I read the following headline: “Gas-Flushed Sandwiches Stay Fresh for Two Weeks.” The corresponding article explained that Booker Group, the UK’s largest food and drink wholesaler, is “launching chicken tikka and cheese ploughmans sandwiches, among others, it insists will remain fresh for 14 days.”