The fictional memory device used in Assassin's Creed is the Animus.
The Animus allows a modern user to access genetic memories inherited from ancestors. In the original game, Desmond Miles is forced to use the device so the Templars can search his ancestry for information. His experiences as Altaïr create the series' basic structure: a modern storyline framing playable historical sequences.
The concept is fictional and is not a real method of recovering personal memories. Within the series, later versions of the technology become more advanced and portable. Different games show the Animus being used by other characters, including descendants, researchers, and people connected to Abstergo Industries.
The word is sometimes confused with Helix, a later entertainment platform and product associated with Abstergo. Helix also lets users experience genetic memories, but the Animus is the franchise's original and defining memory machine.