Table 1 Advantages and disadvantages of collaborative application types

Databases and Wikis (LongBets, iKnow, Trendradar2020, Shaping Tomorrow, SigmaScan, Delta Scan, TechCast, Forecasting World Events, The Seven Hrizons, wrong tomorrow, Future Scanner, TechCast, TrendWiki)

Facilitate a (structured) collection and discussion of baseline data (forecasts & predictions)

Except TrendWiki and TechCast only predictions, no conjectures, no rating

Social Rating Systems(Is it Future proof?, bean sight, The Future of Facebook Project, predicto.net, wefutr, Web of Fate, Wikistrat, The Future of Facebook Project, Forecasting ACE, NY Times Technology Timeline)

Irrelevant data is sorted out by rating, thus the number of participants is perfectly scalable

Except weboffate no reduction of complexity

Collaborative Scenarios (superstruct, signtific map, Risk Interconnection Map)

Reduction of complexity by bundling assumptions, good motivation of participants at iftf platform games

Applications based on the foresight-engine framework are missing a system to sort the data and fail to narrow down the questions for the user which leads to a huge amount of almost unstructured data.

Prediction Markets (intrade, inklingmarket, iPredict, Popular Science Predictions)

High probability of occurrence of the predicted events on short perspective (upt to two years). The more participants the better the results.

Prediction markets are basically advanced polls with future related questions, thus quite similar to market- and diffusion research. Only suitable for a very limited range of branches (politics, sports, etc. ), no feedback loops.