A D V E N T U R E S   in   C Y B E R S O U N D

In 1798 the Belgian physicist Etienne-Gaspard Robert developed a sophisticated version of the Magic Lantern which he called the Phantascope (or Fantascope) and as Robertson, (his adopted 'stage' name), presented his "Phantasmagorie" (or Fantasmagoria) to the public.

Source: http://www.ame.umontreal.ca/ecoles/din/plancours3131/3p5.html

Phantasmagoria (Phan*tas`ma*go"ri*a) n. [NL., from Gr. a phantasm + an assembly, fr. to gather: cf. F. phantasmagorie.]

1. An optical effect produced by a magic lantern. The figures are painted in transparent colors, and all the rest of the glass is opaque black. The screen is between the spectators and the instrument, and the figures are often made to appear as in motion, or to merge into one another.

2. The apparatus by which such an effect is produced.

3. Fig.: A medley of figures; illusive images. "This mental phantasmagoria." Sir W. Scott.

This topic is presented in detail in the essay Phantasmagoria

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