Evolving flashlights

One of the presents I found in my Christmas stocking this year was a very handy flashlight (upper left in the picture) - one that doesn't need batteries. Of course, the big advantage of such a flashlight is that in an emergency you won't be surprised to find your batteries dead and the flashlight all but useless.

When I went to put the new flashlight away I found that we have at least been consistent through the years. The first thing I found was flashlight 2 (upper middle in the picture) in the glove compartment of my car. Then I found flashlight 3 (upper right in the picture) in the computer room closet. And finally, flashlight 4 (bottom red in the picture) in the kitchen "junk" drawer. All the flashlights work - after a fashion but I was struck by how they have "evolved" through the years.

Flashlight 4 (the red one) has a squeeze handle which, when pumped, powers the old fashioned flashlight bulb. When you stop pumping, the light goes out. There is a small flywheel so that you have about a second of light before you need to pump again. But that is virtually continuous effort.

Flashlights 1, 2, and 3 all are built similarly with a crank on the bottom and three white LED lightbulbs. And all claim that 1 to 2 minutes worth of cranking will allow up to 1 hour of continuous light. Quite an improvement over number 4. With number 3 you can select 1 LED or 3 with the light intensity varying inversely with the length of time before you have to recharge. With light 2 you have the option of 3 LEDs steadily shining or 3 LEDs plus 2 red LEDs flashing. Light 1 is at the top of the evolutionary design. You have the option of 3 LEDs either steadily shining or flashing PLUS independently an AM/FM radio and a shrill alarm sound. I wonder what next year's improvement will be?