WATCH OUT!

Steven is struggling through an airport terminal with two huge and very heavy suitcases. A stranger walks up to him and asks, “Have you got the time?”

Steven sighs, puts down his cases and looks to his wrist. “It’s two thirty,” he says.

“That’s a very fancy watch!” exclaims the stranger. Stevens’s mood lightens a bit.

“Yes, it’s not bad is it, check this out” and he shows him a time zone display for every area on the planet. He presses a few buttons and somewhere on the watch says, “The time is two thirty one and ten seconds.”

The stranger is impressed

“ That’s not all,” says Steven

He pushes a few more buttons and a map comes on to the screen showing their exact location by satellite.
“I want to buy that watch!” says the stranger.

“Oh, it’s not ready for sale yet says Steven. I’m still fine tuning the device” “But look at this” and he proceeds to show the stranger that the watch is also an FM receiver with a digital tuner, a sonar device for underwater depth gauging and the tiny machine has the capacity to be used as a working computer with a 128Mb memory with a mini printer included. The watch also could be used as a spotlight.

“I’ve got to have that watch!” says the stranger “I’ll give you €1000 for it!” ”Oh no, it’s already cost me more than that…” “I’ll give you €5000 for it.” “But its not fin…” “€15,000 for it!” and the stranger pulls out his chequebook.

Steven stops to think. He’s only put about €8,500 into materials and development and with the €15,000 he can make another one and have it ready for sale in six months. The stranger frantically finishes writing the cheque 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” Steven abruptly makes up his mind. “OK” he says and takes the watch off his wrist.

They make the exchange and the stranger goes happily on his way. “Hey, wait a minute” calls Steven after the stranger, who turns around warily. Steven points down to the two massive suitcases he’d been trying to wrestle through the airport terminal. “Don’t forget your batteries!

Environmental.