Innovation Nation Season 1 Episode 5

Ep 5. Hollow Flashlight Girl

  • October 25, 2014
  • 21 min

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Innovation Nation season 1 episode 5 explores the story of Ann Makosinski, a teenager from Canada who invented a flashlight that runs solely on the heat of the human hand. The episode starts with a brief introduction of Ann and her family, who live in a small town in British Columbia. Ann comes from a family of engineers and inventors, so tinkering with things comes naturally to her. She talks about her inspiration for the flashlight, which came when she witnessed her Filipino friend struggling to study after sunset due to a lack of electricity in her village. This motivated Ann to find a way to create a flashlight that does not need batteries or electricity to light up.

The episode then depicts Ann's journey of creating the hollow flashlight, which took her several months of hard work and experimentation. Ann explains the science behind her invention, which involves a Peltier tile that converts heat into electricity. She faced several challenges during the process, including finding the right materials, figuring out the right amount of pressure required for the flashlight to work, and finding a way to make it lightweight and easily portable.

The episode also highlights a crucial moment in Ann's journey when she participated in the Google Science Fair and won the "Bright Idea" prize for her flashlight. This recognition led to media attention and funding that helped her further develop her invention and make it available to people in need.

The episode also sheds light on Ann's entrepreneurial spirit, as she turned her success into a business called "Hollow Flashlight Girl," which aims to create sustainable solutions for communities worldwide that lack reliable access to electricity. Ann talks about her vision for the future and her desire to make a positive impact on the world.

In conclusion, Innovation Nation season 1 episode 5 provides an inspiring insight into the life and work of Ann Makosinski, who used her ingenuity and passion to create a solution that has the potential to change the lives of millions. The episode portrays the importance of innovation, creativity, and empathy in solving real-world problems and making a difference in the world.

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Description
  • First Aired
    October 25, 2014
  • Runtime
    21 min
  • Language
    English