Damnit! Damnit! DAMNIT! Another one of my ideas, stolen right out from under me.
My wife is a “set the alarm clock ahead” type, but after a few days, she would know that it was ahead and adjust her snoozes accordingly. After awhile, I started taking it upon myself to screw with the clock every few days – that way she’d never know if it really was fast or not.
Eventually, I had the “hey, they should have a clock that does this automatically” idea.
Damnit!
If only you hadn’t procrastinated on following up on that idea, Hal.
Eh, I dunno. I like to set my clocks accurately so I know how late I actually am, and just take my lumps.
Maybe another solution would be to just not be late? I really don’t get this epidemic of lateness. I always make a point of being on-time whenever I have a meeting or appointment with someone. And I live in L.A. where the traffic can destroy a mortal man, yet I still manage to be pretty darn close to on-time 95+% of the time.
If this was a consumer electronics appliance and not a computer-based program I would actually go out and buy several of these for each of my late and/or procrastinator friends.
Build it, Hal, and I will come.
Build it, Hal, and I will come. Wow, you must REALLY be excited about this clock! 
I think for a lot of people it’s a matter of playing the odds. In order to be on time 95% of the time, you have to leave a reasonable amount of time for delays, unforseen events, etc. For the congenitally late (such as, unfortunately, myself) the thinking is more like “It usually takes me 15 minutes to get to work, but if I’m lucky and don’t get any red lights and if I speed a bit I’m usually able to make it there in 10…”, which sometimes works and maybe even often works, but just as often will make you 5 or even 10 minutes late. I guess it still doesn’t make sense, but that’s how the thinking goes, at least for me. 
Well, the article mentions that there’s a patent out for real world models. So there’s hope!
A watch for people born late?
Perhaps you mean habitually late, or perpetually late?
I think I used it appropriately according to the definition on dictionary.com:
2) Being or having an essential characteristic as if by nature; inherent or inveterate: “the congenital American optimism that denies conflicts and imagines all stories having happy endings” (Robert J. Samuelson).
So I don’t think it has to refer literally to conditions inherited at birth, no?
Hmm. Well, that’s a new one on me. The sole definition for “congenital” in my Random House dictionary is “existing at birth,” and in the Oxford American dictionary it’s “existing since a person’s birth.” That’s always been my understanding of the word, and since I’m a soon-to-be nurse, that’s what it means to me (as in, a congenital heart defect). I daresay the dictionary.com definition is another case of widespread misuse becoming the norm. However, I don’t feel strongly enough about it to dig in my heels.
Carry on. 