When I think of past centuries, the one thing that I am extremely thankful for is how painless modern life is. I may seem to be stating the obvious or engaging in Whiggish optimism, but think about this for a second. 
I've had searing tooth pain for the last few days. This morning I sat down with Google and decided to find out what it was and how to cure it. After typing in my symptoms, I've found that it could possibly be dentis hypersensitivity, which is caused by either brushing your teeth too hard or not brushing them enough in certain areas (among other things). The symptoms seemed to match my own - searing pain on the back of a particular tooth when exposed to cold fluids.
This is why I love living in a Western, capitalist democracy. I found out that switching toothpaste would cure my problem. A trip to the pharmacy and a fiver later, I not only have some strong painkillers but also some new toothpaste.
So, big deal, I found out I had sensitive teeth and so I bought some new toothpaste. But what I find interesting is how science and technology combined with a free market helped me figure out my problems and (hopefully) solve them so quickly. And how many generations must have suffered from similarly annoying pains throughout the centuries. I'm not talking about major diseases or disfigurements. I'm just talking about constant, everyday pain like headaches, toothaches, strains and so on. It must have been an accompaniment for many, many people throughout the centuries.
What I'm looking forward to is how the web of data, the Semantic revolution, the users-own-their-data deal will affect healthcare. I have a feeling that it'll do what it's done in entertainment - piss off a lot of the existing powers that be and make things better in the process.
My health records are stored on pieces of paper in a whole bunch of different people's offices - my doctor, my dentist, the hospital I went to a few years ago. This is silly. My health data should be in an encrypted XML file that sits on my digital devices. What I want is a service where I can type in my problems, and it'll then consult my health records and advise me what the best course of action is. And it'll hook up to external databases and tell me where to go to solve the problems.
