Quantum transducer: Difference between revisions

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:''For the ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' episode, see [[Ghost Machine]].''
{{Infobox Object
{{Infobox Object
|image = Quantum_transducer.jpg
|image = Quantum transducer.jpg
|name = "Ghost Machine"
|type = Navigational aid
|type = Navigational aid
|origin =  
|origin =  
|appearances = [[TV]]: ''[[Ghost Machine (TV story)|Ghost Machine]]'' <br />[[TV]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]''
|appearances = [[TV]]: ''[[Ghost Machine (TV story)|Ghost Machine]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]''
 
}}The '''quantum transducer''' or "'''Ghost Machine'''" allowed [[human]]s a form of mental [[time travel]].
}}
The '''quantum transducer''' or "'''Ghost Machine'''" allowed [[human]]s a form of mental [[time travel]].


== History ==
== History ==
:''The Transducer came to [[21st century]] by unknown means, presumably via the [[Cardiff Rift]].''
In the [[21st century]], [[Ed Morgan]] acquired the machine and then [[Bernie Harris]], a small-time fence in grey-market alien artefacts who filched it out of a biscuit [[tin box|tin]] found in a lockup owned by Ed Morgan presumably.


[[Ed Morgan]] acquired the machine (perhaps by finding it, perhaps by obtaining it off somebody else) and then [[Bernie Harris]], a small-time fence in grey-market [[alien artefact]]s who filched it out of a biscuit tin found in a lockup owned by Ed Morgan presumably.
[[Torchwood Three]] acquired the machine by tracing alien energy signals from the device while still in Bernie's possession. After a chase that led her to a [[Cardiff Central Station|train station]], [[Gwen Cooper]] ended up with Bernie's hoodie, with the machine in a pocket. She mentally time-slipped back in time and saw a [[ghost]] from [[World War II]], not a phantom in the conventional sense, but a quantum echo of the long-ago emotional state of a living person, [[Tom Flanagan]]. The other half of the machine, also at Bernie's, snapped in neatly with the first and picked up visions of the future.


[[Torchwood Three]] acquired the machine by tracing alien energy signals from the device while still in Harries' possession. After a chase that led her to a train station, [[Gwen Cooper]] ended up with Harries' hoodie, with the machine in a pocket. She mentally time-slipped back in time and saw a [[ghost]] from [[World War II]], not a phantom in the conventional sense, but a quantum echo of the long-ago emotional state of a living person, [[Tom Flanagan]]. The other half of the machine, also at Bernie's, snapped in neatly with the first and picked up visions of the future.
The transducer eventually was put away with other dangerous alien artefacts in Torchwood Three. ([[TV]]: ''[[Ghost Machine (TV story)|Ghost Machine]]'')


The Transducer eventually was put away with other dangerous alien artefacts in Torchwood Three. ([[TV]]: ''[[Ghost Machine]]'')
It was seen again when [[Owen Harper]] tried to find the blueprints for the [[Rift Manipulator]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'')


It was seen again when [[Owen Harper]] tried to find the blue prints for the [[Rift Manipulator]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'')
It was presumably destroyed when the Cardiff base of Torchwood Three exploded in [[2009]] due to [[British government|the government's]] efforts to hide their involvement with [[the 456]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)|Children of Earth: Day One]]'')


== Technology ==
== Technology ==
The Transducer used [[nanotechnology]]. It converted the quantum traces of emotional events, both past and future, into a form that humans could mentally experience. ([[TV]]: ''[[Ghost Machine (TV story)|Ghost Machine]]'') Jack believed that it worked as a navigational device for travellers across the dimensions who would use quantum traces to orient the flight of their craft. ([[WEB]]: ''[[Torchwood website|torchwood.org.uk]]'')
The transducer used [[nanotechnology]]. It converted the quantum traces of emotional events, both past and future, into a form that humans could mentally experience.


When activated, apparently by touching the buttons on the front, the user was shown a emotional event from the past or future. As well as showing the actual event, the Transducer also transmitted the thoughts of the people in the event. ([[TV]]: ''[[Ghost Machine (TV story)|Ghost Machine]]'')
When activated, apparently by touching the buttons on the front, the user was shown an emotional event from the past or future. As well as showing the actual event, the transducer also transmitted the thoughts of the people in the event. ([[TV]]: ''[[Ghost Machine (TV story)|Ghost Machine]]'')


:''When the events were seen, more negative events were shown darker and and less colourful, whereas positive events were shown brighter and more vibrant. This may suggest the events were colour-coded for the emotional states.''
== Behind the scenes ==
=== Torchwood website ===
The [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|series 1]] version of the [[Torchwood website]] had an article written by Captain [[Jack Harkness]] titled "Ghost machine explained". It said that instead of looking at the transducer from the perspective of flesh and blood beings like humans, the device had to be seen as how a transdimensional being — who can travel back and forth through time as if it was water — would observe the universe. Jack explained that "every" traveller needs a map — some equivalent of GPS. Jack speculated that the quantum transducer functioned as a "ghost map" that locked onto quantum "hot spots", which humanity perceived as ghosts to help the transdimensional being find out where he was in time and space. He says that this is why it kept switching itself on around a "big emotional echo" — it's essentially "a mobile phone scanning for a signal". <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.torchwood.org.uk/html/gadgets/jack.shtml |title=Ghost machine explained |author=Harkness, J |date of source= |website name=[[Torchwood website]] |accessdate=25 July 2013 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827003849/http://www.torchwood.org.uk/html/gadgets/jack.shtml |archivedate=27 August 2007 }}</ref>


== External links ==
== Footnotes ==
* [http://www.torchwood.org.uk/html/gadgets/jack.shtml Jack's report on the device]
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Devices]]
[[Category:Alien artefacts]]
[[Category:Alien artefacts]]
[[Category:Time technology]]
[[Category:Time technology]]
[[Category:Torchwood Three's items]]
[[Category:Torchwood Three's items]]

Latest revision as of 11:26, 9 March 2023

The quantum transducer or "Ghost Machine" allowed humans a form of mental time travel.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

In the 21st century, Ed Morgan acquired the machine and then Bernie Harris, a small-time fence in grey-market alien artefacts who filched it out of a biscuit tin found in a lockup owned by Ed Morgan presumably.

Torchwood Three acquired the machine by tracing alien energy signals from the device while still in Bernie's possession. After a chase that led her to a train station, Gwen Cooper ended up with Bernie's hoodie, with the machine in a pocket. She mentally time-slipped back in time and saw a ghost from World War II, not a phantom in the conventional sense, but a quantum echo of the long-ago emotional state of a living person, Tom Flanagan. The other half of the machine, also at Bernie's, snapped in neatly with the first and picked up visions of the future.

The transducer eventually was put away with other dangerous alien artefacts in Torchwood Three. (TV: Ghost Machine)

It was seen again when Owen Harper tried to find the blueprints for the Rift Manipulator. (TV: Captain Jack Harkness)

It was presumably destroyed when the Cardiff base of Torchwood Three exploded in 2009 due to the government's efforts to hide their involvement with the 456. (TV: Children of Earth: Day One)

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

The transducer used nanotechnology. It converted the quantum traces of emotional events, both past and future, into a form that humans could mentally experience.

When activated, apparently by touching the buttons on the front, the user was shown an emotional event from the past or future. As well as showing the actual event, the transducer also transmitted the thoughts of the people in the event. (TV: Ghost Machine)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Torchwood website[[edit] | [edit source]]

The series 1 version of the Torchwood website had an article written by Captain Jack Harkness titled "Ghost machine explained". It said that instead of looking at the transducer from the perspective of flesh and blood beings like humans, the device had to be seen as how a transdimensional being — who can travel back and forth through time as if it was water — would observe the universe. Jack explained that "every" traveller needs a map — some equivalent of GPS. Jack speculated that the quantum transducer functioned as a "ghost map" that locked onto quantum "hot spots", which humanity perceived as ghosts to help the transdimensional being find out where he was in time and space. He says that this is why it kept switching itself on around a "big emotional echo" — it's essentially "a mobile phone scanning for a signal". [1]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. Harkness, J. Ghost machine explained. Torchwood website. Archived from the original on 27 August 2007. Retrieved on 25 July 2013.