Prediction Markets as a new tool to spot innovation

I wrote last Janaury, in this blog, about Prediction Markets. More organizations are beginning to embrace this tool for various business objectives. InformationWeek's cover story on Nov. 8, 2009, is an interesting read with several examples of companies using this - GE Research, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Harrah Entertainment, Quallcom etc.
The article also lists several major vendors of prediction market software, and some of the issues to explore with vendors. The vendors cited are: Accept, Consensus Point, HP, Inkling Markets, NewsFutures, Spigit and Xpee.

Predicting the election - with CNN's interactive map

This fabulous national election will be decided just two days from today. Barack Obama is the projected winner in most polls, as it looks likely he will get the required 270 electoral votes.

CNN has a neat interactive electoral map where you can pick the winner for each state and see how it all adds up.

In 48 hours we will all know the final totals