A vortex manipulator was a form of basic time travel used by the Time Agency of the 51st century.
Functions and Abilities
The vortex manipulator allowed the user to travel through time using the Time Vortex. (DW: Utopia, The Sound of Drums) Under normal circumstances, it can allow travel of a distance of nearly 200,000 years. (DW: The Parting of the Ways, TW: Everything Changes) Following modifications with a sonic screwdriver, it could allow travel from the End of the Universe to the 21st century. (DW: The Sound of Drums) The Doctor considered it very primitive compared to a TARDIS, describing his TARDIS as a "sports car" to Jack Harkness's "space hopper".
Presumably the vortex manipulator created some sort of shield to protect an Agent from the side effects of an unprotected journey through the vortex. This did not, however, prevent some considerable discomfort for the user, as shown by the Doctor, Jack and Martha's responses upon arriving in London. (DW: The Sound of Drums )
Jack's admission that he was unable to reach his intended destination (DW: Utopia ) when returning to Earth's past would seem to imply that vortex manipulators are not reliable forms of exact time travel, certainly when compared to a TARDIS. This appears to be backed up by his surprise that the trip back from Utopia via the manipulator brings them back so close to when they left, which something the Doctor takes credit for. This may be due to the Doctor's time related abilities. (DW: The Sound of Drums )
The vortex manipulators were very resilient, and one was able to survive a bomb that would destroy a Human. (TW: Children of Earth: Day Five)
Time Agents were given a vortex manipulator. Jack Harkness had his manipulator housed in a Time Agency wrist strap. (DW: Utopia) Although it was generally used by the Agency, the Family of Blood stole one to follow the Doctor around the universe. (DW: Human Nature / The Family of Blood) The TARDIS controls include a vortex manipulator. (DW: Attack of the Graske)
When Gray invaded the Torchwood Hub he used his manipulator and it seemed to have a function where all Weevils in Cardiff go rabid. (TW: Exit Wounds)
Other Uses
- Communication between users, listening to radio broadcasts, including storage of messages (TW: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, DW: The Sound of Drums)
- Projection of holograms (DW: The Empty Child, TW: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Fragments)
- Teleportation (DW: The Sound of Drums, Last of the Time Lords, The Stolen Earth Children of Earth)
- Tracking of life signs (DW: Journey's End, Bad Wolf)
- Remote control of electronic devices (TW: Everything Changes, Exit Wounds)
Owners
- Captain Jack Harkness
- Captain John Hart
- Gray
- The Family of Blood (stolen)