THE WRIST WATCH
Jake is struggling through a bus station 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 metropolis. He hits a few buttons and from
somewhere on the watch a voice says "The time is eleven
'til 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 $8500 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. 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'd been trying to wrestle through the bus
station. "Don't forget your batteries.
