What is the purpose of augur?

Could you please elaborate on the purpose of Augur? As a decentralized prediction market platform, I'm curious to understand how it aims to revolutionize the way we make predictions and forecasts, especially in the realm of finance and cryptocurrency. What specific problem does Augur aim to solve, and how does it utilize blockchain technology to achieve its goals? Additionally, what are some of the key features and benefits that set Augur apart from other prediction market platforms?