New Technology Watch

Jake is struggling through the bus station with two very large and obviously 
heavy suitcases when a stranger stops him and asks, "Do you  know what time 
it is?" 

Jake sighs, puts the suitcases down and glances at  his wrist. It's 2:05 p.m." 
he says. 

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

Jake brightens a little. "Yeah, it's not bad, I invented it, check this out," 
and he shows him a time zone display not just for every time zone but for the 
86 largest cities, worldwide. He hits a few buttons and from somewhere on the 
watch a voice says, "The time is eleven o'five," 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 
unbelievable and the voice is crystal clear.

The stranger is dumbstruck with admiration. "That's not all", says Jake. He 
pushes a few more buttons and a tiny but very high resolution map of  New York 
city appears on the display. "The flashing dot shows our exact location via 
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 
AM/FM digital receiver, a sonar device that can measure distances up to 125 
feet, a pager with a thermal paper printer and, most impressive of all, the 
capacity to handle 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 yet."

 "I'll give you $1,000 for it!"

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

 "I'll give you $5,000 for it!"

 "But it's just not...."

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

Jake stops to think. He's only put $8,500 into materials and development and 
with $15,000 he can certainly make another one and have it ready for 
merchandising in only 6 months. The stranger frantically finishes writing the 
check and waves it in front of Jake. "Here it is.  I'm ready to hand it to you 
right here and now. $20,000! Take it or leave it."

Well, the increase was enough for Jake, who abruptly makes his decision. 
"Okay", 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 that he'd been trying to wrestle through the 
station. "Don't forget your batteries."