OpenWorlds Horizon is not one but a suite of Web 3D and multimedia browsers built using our OpenWorlds developer libraries.  Horizon is a free, customizable, extensible version which supports industry standards including VRML and X3D as well as advanced extensions including real-time shadows, reflection mapping, true reflections (mirrors), NURBS, and many other features. Horizon permits you to make your own C++ built-in nodes to extend the basic capabilities through our Horizon SDK.  This permits you to add non-standard features such as device support, real-time video textures, and networking capabilities thereby easily creating your own custom application which supports industry standards such as VRML and X3D, but provides additional capabilities beyond those specifications.  

Horizon is a solution for developers wanting to add custom features to their viewer or for having a base animation system to add on to, and who don't need or want the extra power and flexibility (and cost) of the OpenWorlds libraries themselves.  It is also a great lower-cost testbed to try before buying the libraries. The OpenWorlds AppKit comes includes source code and project files to build Horizon.

Horizon supports 3D Stereo viewing using StereoGraphics' Crystal Eyes Stereo Eyewear.

OpenWorlds Horizon has different versions built on top of different rendering and hardware platforms.  Our naming scheme has a two-character extension on the name to let you know what version it is.  The first character is the hardware and OS platform and can be either W (Windows) or S (SGI's Irix) and the second character is the graphics library and can be Z (OptimiZer)or   P (Performer)