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Magic in Modern Times: 7 Ways Technology is Transforming the Art of Illusion

One of the oldest kinds of art is magic. However, it's also one that has never remained constant: Magicians have constantly adjusted to new situations in order to make their illusions as convincing as possible, from ancient Greece and Rome to the present. Modern magicians are further transforming their craft through the use of technology, and they're utilizing some pretty fascinating techniques to accomplish it. Here are seven ways that magic is changing in the modern era due to technology:

By Courtanae HeslopPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
Magic in Modern Times: 7 Ways Technology is Transforming the Art of Illusion
Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash

Magic is one of the most time-honored art forms. But it's also one that has never been static: From ancient Greece and Rome to the modern day, magicians have always adapted to changing circumstances in order to make their illusions as convincing as possible. Today's magicians are using technology to transform their art even further—and they're doing so with some pretty cool tricks. Here are seven ways technology is transforming magic in modern times:

Augmented reality

The world of illusionist is changing, and it's happening faster than you think.

Augmented reality is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, typically by means of a portable electronic device with an embedded camera and display. Digital manipulation is the process of manipulating a digital image. This includes cropping and resizing an image, enhancing an image through color correction, retouching (removing blemishes or wrinkles), removing or adding elements to an image (elements could include objects like trees), scaling images up or down so they fit better into different areas on your website etc... It also includes using various tools such as: clone stamp tool in photoshop which allows you select part of your photo then copy it over multiple times onto different parts within your photo until you've covered everything up!

Digital manipulation

Digital manipulation is a form of digital art that involves the use of computer software to create or manipulate images, sounds and video.

It encompasses several sub-categories including:

  • Digital editing - Manipulating images using traditional means (e.g., Photoshop) but using digital tools instead of physical ones.
  • Digital painting - Creating an image from scratch using only a computer program such as Illustrator or PaintShop Pro.
  • 3D modeling - Creating 3D models either from scratch or by modifying existing objects in AutoCAD or Maya; this includes sculpting with clay on top of a 2D scanned image (similar to how sculptors worked before computers).

CGI and robotics

In a world where technology is advancing at an exponential rate, it's no surprise that magicians are using technology to enhance their art.

One example of this is CGI (computer-generated imagery). Magicians can use CGI to create the illusions of magic tricks in movies and TV shows. For example, David Copperfield used CGI in his famous illusion where he walked through the Great Wall of China. It's also used in movies like The Prestige or Harry Potter when an actor plays multiple roles at once.

Another way that magicians use technology today is through robotics--robots programmed to do magic tricks or create illusions on stage! For example, Yu Ho-Jin uses robots as part of his show called "Robot Magician." In fact, he even competed against other magicians who performed with real people instead of machines at the 2012 World Championship Of Magic Competition held in Las Vegas!

Drones and holograms

Drones and holograms are two technologies that have been used in the art of illusion. Drones can be used to create holograms, and holograms can be used to enhance the realism of an illusion or create an entirely new experience altogether.

In addition to using drones as props, magicians have also incorporated them into their routines by making them appear out of thin air (or at least what looks like thin air). This can be done through augmented reality technology--a feature that allows users' smartphones or other devices to interact with objects in their environments via projection screens (like those found on walls).

For example: You're watching a magician perform his act when suddenly he produces a drone right before your eyes! How did it get there? The answer involves some clever tricks involving mirrors and mirrors within mirrors...but I won't spoil anything further than that!

Virtual assistance

Virtual assistants are computer programs that can help you complete a variety of tasks. Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant and Cortana are just a few examples of virtual assistants available today. These programs can answer questions or perform actions on your behalf by simply speaking to them. Virtual assistants also have access to vast amounts of information on the internet; this means they can find answers when you don't know where else to look--and do so much faster than you ever could!

Virtual assistants make life easier in many ways: for example, if you need to make an appointment with someone but don't know their schedule offhand (or even how many people work at their company), all it takes is one question for your virtual assistant to pull up all their contact information as well as any available timeslots from its database.*

The worlds of magic and technology are colliding in new and exciting ways.

The worlds of magic and technology are colliding in new and exciting ways. The following are just a few examples of how technology is transforming the art of illusion:

  • Magicians can use apps on their smartphones to perform tricks or create new ones. For example, there's an app called iMuggle that lets you make objects disappear using your phone.
  • Magicians are using drones to create illusions, such as making it look like they're hovering over the audience while they're actually standing on stage below them!
  • Magic tricks have been performed with virtual reality (VR) headsets like Oculus Rift which allow viewers to see things from different perspectives than what they would normally see during a performance.

Conclusion

The future of magic is bright, and it's not just because you'll be able to book a magician for your next party. With technology continuing to advance at such a rapid pace, the art of illusion will never be the same again. While we may not be able to predict exactly how these new developments will affect magicians and their audiences alike, one thing is certain: They're going to be amazing!

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About the Creator

Courtanae Heslop

Courtanae Heslop is a multi-genre writer and business owner.

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