The Chinese had compasses - but they preferred the South as their main aim. Floating bits of lodestone may have been the beginning but for such a simple device attractive designs have abounded. Is it the most important gadget to aid exploration - vote on our poll! It has of course been incorporated into sundials, ventimeters and a million other devices. Even my iphone has one - but I suspect it works by GPS (see Luddites on the right!).