- R&D NOTEBOOK PAGES FROM THE BADLANDS OUTSIDE OF BEND, OR.

A non-digital watch can be used as a compass.
Simply point the hour hand at the sun.  Half way between that point and the 12:00 point on your watch points to the south. For example, if it is 8:00, point the 8 at the sun and south would be at the 10:00 position. West is 90 degrees to the left of south.
If you are struggling with your watch-as-compass-watch on a cloudy day, fall back on the stick or pencil method. It will cast some kind of shadow so you can see where the sun is coming from. 

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS. Originally designated NAVSTAR (NAVigation System with Timing And Ranging), development of GPS began in 1973. In 1978, the U.S. Department of Defense launched the first GPS satellite, imposing SA (Selective Availability); the intentional degradation of GPS signals to prevent military adversaries from using the highly accurate positioning data. SA limited GPS to 100-meter accuracy for non-U.S. military users. Magellan® introduced the first handheld receiver in 1989, making GPS available and practical for many new industrial and recreational applications. The network required to efficiently cover the Earth was completed with the launch of the 24th satellite in 1994. Replacement satellites continue to be launched, each having a life span of about 10 years. The GPS satellites were initially manufactured by Rockwell International and are now manufactured by Lockheed Martin. We usually trek with the GPS or the simple spectus.

Its uses include but are not limited to: Navigation, Surveying, Location-based services, Geocaching, Flying, Time Reference, Geophysics and geology.