The world’s biggest high-tech fair has opened its doors in Hanover, revealing high-tech lederhosen and talking cars alongside more traditional items of household technology. Mobile phones, ultra-fast internet connections and high-definition DVDs are expected to attract the most attention.

More than 400, 000 visitors are expected to visit the week-long event, which has attracted more than 6,000 exhibitors from 77 countries.

Organisers hope the mix of serious business and visionary fun – exhibits include a mobile phone that doubles as a pillow and a bathroom mirror that can give current stock quotes, as well as the talking, listening BMW sports car and the lederhosen with a built-in mobile phone – will stem a rash of cancellations Office and Information Technology, since the Internet bubble burst

Since the dot-com bubble year 2001, attendance has fallen by about half, exhibition space has shrunk by a third and many big players are staying away. Despite the event’s focus on mobile phones, Nokia will not be attending this year. Nor will Apple, Philips, Motorola or Canon.

In an attempt to counter the decline, the event’s organisers have said they will overhaul the format for next year. The event will be shortened by a day and it will focus more sharply on technology professionals.

“The Cebit of the future will be a much different event, but it will remain one of the most important driving forces of the digital world,” Ernst Raue, a board member of Deutsche Messe, the company that runs the event, said.

Events that are smaller but more focused, such as Berlin’s Ifa consumer electronics fair and Barcelona’s 3GSM mobile telephone event, have nibbled away at the Cebit guest list as the Hanover fair has suffered an identity crisis.

“Without a major overhaul, Cebit has an uncertain future,” Martin Butberlet, an IT expert from the market research firm Gartner said. “Cebit must go back to its roots. It must appeal directly to business clients and mid-sized companies and offer them solutions."

IT industry insiders, the fair’s original target audience still represent 85 per cent of visitors, but they share the cavernous halls at the event with punters drawn by gleaming gadgets. This year’s event will preview the European edition of the PlayStation 3, due for launch on March 23.

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