A hand-held battery powered device senses when it is picked up, and then automatically turns on. When the device is released or set back down, it automatically turns off. Touch or contact sensors sense the touch of a human hand, causing a circuit in the device to switch on a light source, such as an LED, or a motor, or other load. The device is advantageously designed so that when grasped or picked up, the fingers of the user's hand lay over touch sensors. Various types of touch sensors may be used. The touch sensors operate electrically, and without any movement, or moving parts.