Cisco has published the results of its annual Visual Networking Index Forecast, which predicts and analyses worldwide Internet Protocol networking growth and trends for a five-year period.

It expects annual global IP traffic to reach 1.3 zettabytes (1.3 trillion gigabytes) by 2016, nearly four times the total in 2011. The number of network-connected devices is expected to reach 18.9 billion; almost 2.5 connections for each person on earth and approaching double the 2011 total of 10.3 billion devices.

Mark Bridge writes:

A horse box and eight SIM cards. That’s the basic technology keeping the BBC’s Olympic Torch Relay broadcasts on the air and on the road.

The converted DAF horse box is being driven in front of the runners as they carry an Olympic torch along the relay route. It’s equipped with four cameras and a mixing desk, enabling a choice of views to be recorded and broadcast for 12 hours per day throughout the 70-day relay.

Mobile network traffic management specialist Bytemobile has published its latest quarterly Mobile Analytics Report, which looks into the ways consumers use mobile devices.

The current report pays particular attention to tablet usage and video content.

Fujitsu Laboratories says it’s developing a technology to record stereoscopic 3D images by using a special attachment that fits over the lens of standard mobile phones.

More details will be announced at the International Symposium on Consumer Electronics in the USA next month.

Microsoft says its new Windows 8 operating system will offer Dolby Digital Plus surround sound on tablets and PCs.

Audio encoding and decoding will be supported on x86 and ARM-based devices.