The Animus is the fictional device that accesses genetic memories in Assassin's Creed.
In the series, an Animus allows a user to relive ancestral memories encoded in their DNA. This mechanism lets the games move between a modern-day storyline and historical adventures without treating the historical sections as ordinary time travel.
The original Animus is associated with Abstergo Industries, the modern organization linked to the Templars. Later stories introduce updated versions, including the Helix entertainment platform and portable or specialized Animus technology.
Eagle Vision is a perception ability used by Assassin characters, not the memory machine. The Apple of Eden is a powerful Isu artifact, while Helix is a related simulation and entertainment system rather than the original device's name.