FANCY WATCH

Jake is struggling through an airport terminal with two

huge and obviously heavy suitcases when a stranger walks up

to him and asks: "Have you got the time?"

Jake sighs, puts down the suitcases and glances at his

wrist. "It's a quarter to six", he says.

"Hey, that's a pretty fancy watch!" exclaims the stranger.

Jake brightens a little. "Yeah, it's not bad. Check this

out..." - and he shows him a time zone display not just for

every time zone in the world, but for the 86 largest

metropoli. He hits a few buttons and from somewhere on the

watch a voice says "The time is eleven till six" in a very

West Texas accent. A few more buttons and the same voice

says something in Japanese. Jake continues "I've put in

regional accents for each city. The display is unbelievably

high quality and the voice is simply astounding." The

stranger is struck dumb with admiration.

"That's not all...", says Jake. He pushes a few more

buttons and a tiny but very hi-resolution map of New York

City appears on the display. "The flashing dot shows our

location by satellite positioning", explains Jake. "View

recede ten", Jake says, and the display changes to show

eastern New York state.

"I want to buy this watch!" says the stranger.

"Oh, no, it's not ready for sale yet; I'm still working out

the bugs", says the inventor. "But look at this", and he

proceeds to demonstrate that "the watch is also a very

creditable little FM radio receiver with a digital tuner, a

sonar device that can measure distances up to 125 meters, a

pager with thermal paper printout and, most impressive of

all, the capacity for voice recordings of up to 300

standard-size books, though I only have 32 of my favorites

in there so far" says Jake.

"I've got to have this watch!" says the stranger.

"No, you don't understand; it's not ready."

"I'll give you $1000 for it!"

"Oh, no, I've already spent more than ..."

"I'll give you $5000 for it!"

"But it's just not ..."

"I'll give you $15,000 for it!" And the stranger pulls out

a checkbook.

Jake stops to think. He's only put about $8,500 into

materials and development, and with $15,000 he can make

another one and have it ready for merchandising in only six

months. The stranger frantically finishes writing the

check and waves it in front of him.

"Here it is, ready to hand to you right here and now.

$15,000. Take it or leave it."

Jake abruptly makes his decision. "OK", he says, and peels

off the watch and hands it to the stranger.

They make the exchange and the stranger starts happily

away.

"Hey, wait a minute", calls Jake after the stranger, who

turns around warily. Jake points to the two suitcases he

had been trying to wrestle through the terminal. "Don't

forget your batteries."