There was a time when even the humble compass was at the height of human technological development. It was a marked improvement over the paper map, and for a long time it remained the preferred method for finding one’s way. But lately, our navigational gadgets have become exceptionally high-tech – they can talk you through every turn. Somewhere in between the simplistic antiques and the insanely advanced navigation tools is the Tamtam Flash.

The gadget, from Designaffairs studio, combines the classic functionality of a handheld flashlight with the futuristic features of a GPS. It goes from simply lighting your way in the dark to projecting a useful map (one that highlights your current location) to actually pointing out the way you should go with lighted arrows.

A simple twist of the device’s cylinder shifts the selected function, letting it guide you whether you’re on foot, in the car or even, according to the pictures, on camel. It remains a concept for the moment, but it’s not hard to imagine the Tamtam Flash actually coming into our lives one day as a simplified, but fully-functional, guiding light – a beacon leading us to where we need to be.