Cisco, the world's biggest manufacturer of routers and switches that direct Internet traffic, illustrates the directions it sees technology veering.

A virtual assistant who performs an array of duties ranging from tracking stocks to explaining concepts like love, a 'mobile concierge' system designed to make bricks and mortar retail stores more dynamic and a new video buffer system that helps Internet Service Providers reduce digital dropout in high-definition video services are just a few ideas the U.S. based company is demonstrating at an "innovation day" at its UK headquarters.