GIVEN the rapidly growing number of computer operating systems and languages, it seems likely there will be a future demand for translator programs. Our species has created a world of Babel, no standard language, and we now seem to be avidly repeating the exercise in computing. There are at least 10 major operating systems for mainframes, PCs, palmtops and PDAs. The electronic diary, mobile phone, calculator, engine management system, TV and hi-fi represent a further rapidly expanding list. But if all systems are to become a community of electronic capability, how are they to communicate?

How about virus technology? Could an electronic virus enter a machine, look for data matches, decode the logic, unpick and understand MS-DOS, Mac OS, or OS/2, WinCE and Unix for starters? It might, and if connected to a network it might even move between machines, making comparisons to realise a universal translator. Suddenly, network would talk to network; machine to machine; appliance to appliance; and device to device - all in a seamless manner. What a breakthrough.

Whoever creates such a technology will render the world a great service. Companies could then merge as their disparate networks, machines, applications, databases and programmes would work together. Logistic, operational and financial optimisation would then be possible on a global scale. In addition, individuals would find all machines, networks and databases accessible with ease. All electronic entities could be addressed, programmed and controlled. What a boon, at last everything would work with everything else: no more error messages and calls for extra software installation by the genie of the Net.

As new systems came on line the virus would invade, learn, grow and provide ever more links. But soon our world would depend on a singular item of software. Would there be a significant downside to this? Well, I reckon the Babel Bug would soon be on the critical path of our survival.

No doubt the originators would be canny and cash in on this miracle of technology. But would they be greedy, would they seek to control and manipulate the world as the dominant moguls do today?

I think the temptation would be too great. And all they have to do is build in a back-door control access to the bug. Charge people for each translation, with the threat of no more as soon as they fail to pay the bill, and an infinite revenue stream is assured, the world is ransomed at a fraction of a penny a go.

And then? No doubt about it, bug wars would follow. First would come the competition, the technology followers. When it is possible, and that may be soon, you will not have to be a genius to realise a really smart bug. So competing virus translators will be released on to the Net in the spirit of competition. Most likely someone will then originate a seek-and-destroy virus to gain market share, and we have a new form of germ warfare.

In the worst case we could expect the bug moguls to build in software bombs to be activated when they expire by unnatural means. Perhaps then we will need an immune mechanism for the Net, good bugs to fight the bad.

Peter Cochrane is BT Head of Research. Opinions expressed in this column are his personal views and should not be taken as reflecting BT policy or intent. Peter Cochrane holds the Collier Chair for the Public Understanding of Science & Technology at the University of Bristol. His home page is:
http://cochrane.org.uk