Data scanner

A data or book scanner is a device can can be used to store text and other data in the form of photagraph-like images.

Merely by waving it at printed text and images it can store them as information inside itself or translate the data to a computer (TW: Everything Changes). Toshiko Sato, a particular admirer of the scanner, compared it to an iPod for books. Despite Torchwood 3's policy that alien artefacts must never leave the Hub, Toshiko took the scanner out several times in order to experiment with it. (torchwood.org.uk, TW: Everything Changes)

It has practically unlimited storage capacity. Toshiko speculated that alien archeaologists used the scanner to record ancient writings. (torchwood.org.uk)

It can also be used as a lockpicking device. (TW: Cyberwoman).