System, method, and computer program product for scoring items based on user sentiment and for determining the proficiency of predictors

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including control logic stored therein, the control logic enabling the determination of the proficiency of a first predictor, wherein the first predictor is a member of a contest having a plurality of additional predictors, comprising:

• receiving means for enabling a processor to receive a plurality of predictions from the first predictor;
• first calculating means for enabling a processor to calculate, for each prediction, a prediction score, wherein the prediction score is a measure of the prediction against an objective baseline for the prediction;
• and
• second calculating means for enabling a processor to calculate a proficiency score for the first predictor based on the set of prediction scores calculated by the first calculating means, wherein the second calculating means includes:
• third calculating means for enabling the processor to calculate a total score component for the first predictor, wherein the total score is the summation of the plurality of prediction scores generated by the first calculation means,
• fourth calculating means for enabling the processor to calculate an accuracy component for the first predictor, wherein the accuracy component is based at least in part on the number of predictions the first predictor determined correctly and the total number of predictions made by the first predictor, and
• generation means for enabling the processor to generate the proficiency score for the user, wherein the proficiency score is the sum of the total score component and the accuracy component.

A method for aiding an investment decision on an item by an individual, comprising:

• (a) receiving a plurality of predictions on the item from a plurality of users of a prediction system, wherein each user makes a single prediction on the item;
• (b) for each user, calculating a user component, wherein the value of the user component is based on whether the user predicted a specified outcome;
• (c) calculating a community sentiment score for the item wherein the community sentiment score is the summation of user components calculated in step (b) divided by the total number of users making a prediction on the item;
• and
• (d) displaying the community sentiment score for the item, a listing of each prediction made for the item on an item display, and at least one brief informational tag for the item.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including control logic stored therein, the control logic enabling the aid of an investment decision on an item by an individual, comprising:

• first receiving means for enabling a processor to receive a plurality of predictions on the item from a plurality of users of a prediction system, wherein each user makes a single prediction on the item;
• first calculating means for enabling a processor to calculate, for each user, a user component, wherein the value of the user component is based on whether the user predicted a specified outcome;
• second calculating means for enabling a processor to calculate a community sentiment score for the item wherein the community sentiment score is the summation of user components calculated by the first calculating means divided by the total number of users making a prediction on the item;
• and
• first display means for enabling the processor to display the community sentiment score for the item, a listing of each prediction made for the item on an item display, and at least one brief informational tag for the item.