Investopedia: The VIX - Using The "Uncertainty Index" For Profit And Hedging

Volatility is a major factor in equity and option investments, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index (VIX), has been a popular and carefully-watched indicator almost from the moment it was launched. Though VIX may or may not be a rigorous substitute for risk, investors and financial commentators nevertheless watch this indicator to measure the tenor of investor attitudes about the market and the likely path of short-term trading. 

As a financial indicator in its own right, however, it is also possible for investors to use the VIX as a means towards profits or the protection of their portfolios. (Discover a new financial instrument that provides great opportunities for both hedging and speculation. Check out Introducing The VIX Options.)

VIX – What It Is (And Is Not)  
The VIX is a weighted index that blends together several S&P 500 index options, with the notion that the greater the premiums on these options, the more uncertainty about the direction of the market. In design, then, it is the square root of the 30-day period returns, and it is expressed as percentage points. As such, it is supposed to be a forward-looking representation of what sort of volatility the markets expect in the short term.

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