December is a traditional time for casting our eye over the moments that made our year and with Bing’s Top Searches of 2014 we’ve enjoyed recapping the moments that mattered – from the biggest star to the most bizarre news of 2014.
I know one of the events that really impacted my life as well as milllions of others was the death of Robin Williams. He is #1 on the People we Lost list. He is followed by Joan Rivers and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Robin Williams made us laugh until we cried and he will be missed. I am looking forward to the new Night at the Museum movie so I can see him alive and having fun.
But it’s also a time to shift gears and look forward to the year ahead. As you know, the Bing Predicts team has been busy this year predicting events like the World Cup, NFL games, and the US Mid-term Elections. We were inspired by Bing’s top searches of 2014 and started looking for a bigger challenge – how could we apply our Bing Predicts technology to the trends and events of 2015? We’ve polished our crystal ball – or rather analyzed search signals, social and cultural signals and more – to uncover emerging trends that will break through in the coming year.
Fashion
Wearable devices aren’t going anywhere soon. From watches to fitness bands, Bing predicts we’ll be seeing them just about everywhere in 2015, and they’ll be anything but basic. These bands are more than just a commitment to health and wellness, and are becoming a must-have fashion accessory and we expect to see designers such as Michael Kors start dabbling in wearable design.
Food/Diet
Ever heard of the Mediterranean diet? If you haven’t heard of it yet, you’re about to. Bing is seeing a major spike in people’s interest in Middle Eastern food, from dishes they want to try at home to restaurants they plan to visit, people are loving the flavor packed dishes from the Middle East. Hummus, Falafel, and Baklava are all rising in popularity heading into the new year.
Travel
In 2015, travel will be all about exploring the hidden gems across the country. Interest in using one’s vacation to explore small towns is on the rise, while metropolitan meccas like New York and Los Angeles landed much lower on the list. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee, Branson Missouri and Savannah, Georgia are among the top small towns included on the list of desired travel destinations in 2015.
