We still have not changed that light bulb, or decided how many people are needed to do so?
As one of the "Three Stooges" skits detailed, it would take two to hold the ladder and turn it, while a third member holds the light bulb while on the ladder!!
But aside from specialty tools that allow us to stand on solid ground and reach up to 20 ft. high, plus other "gadgets", if we wait too much longer we will have fewer choices as to what kind of lamp bulb to put in that socket!!
The EISA (Energy Independence and Security Act) ruling, passed by the U.S. Congress in 2007, decrees that the 'common' filament light bulb be phased out before 2020, in most forms.. save for specific applications.
In short, for 2012 the 100-watt equivalent filament bulb standard will be 72 watts. In 2013, the 75-watt equivalent filament bulb standard will be 53 watts. In 2014, the 60-watt equivalent filament bulb standard will be 43 watts. And the 40-watt equivalent will be 29 watts.
So fades our lighting standard. More lamps will be needed to provide the same illumination, and cost more to operate! Or maybe we will evolve to have better vision in darkness?
True, filament bulbs are very wasteful of energy.. producing only about 12% efficiency at best. Typically, it may cost about $6.60 USD to operate a 60-watt filament bulb for 1,000 hours.. its expected life-span. For a CFL type lamp, the cost could drop below $1.65 USD per 1,000 hours.. while giving maybe 10,000 hours of expected life! And even more impressive, the newer LED lamps have an expected life of 25,000 hours of life, and may cost less than $1.00 USD per 1,000 hours of use! The CFL and LED are far more efficient than a filament bulb.
But.. if we still used candles and fuel lamps, we would not have to worry about light bulbs!
F@H.. to solve mankind's maladies.. in our lifetimes!