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MACHINES that detect trace amounts of Anthrax and other germs.

Machines that identify fingerprints and voiceprints.

Machines that see someone hiding behind rocks or in caves.

We've heard about such exotic technologies for years, though until Sept. 11 their applications have been subject to a lot of hemming and hawing. But necessity is indeed the mother of invention, so suddenly Americans are looking at these and other leading edge gizmos as a potential salvation to our current fears.

A number of small local companies are at the forefront of this terrorism technology, as staff reporter Danny King points out in his story on page 31. With so much uncertainty clouding the current military effort in Central Asia -- as well as our own security here at home -- it's impossible to know how well these businesses ultimately will fare. Remember that some of the computer industry's brightest stars in the 1980s either sold out or went out of business. Still, it's a good bet that security measures will become much more sophisticated in the weeks and months to come -- and that somebody will be profiting.

Also in this issue: our annual lists of the largest technology companies and the fastest growing technology companies, based on three year revenues from 1998 to 2000 (Pages 3436). That, of course, seems like a generation ago ----and it's reflected by several of the now-troubled companies that made it to the top of the list. Perhaps more reflective of the current environment is the list of largest tech companies, based on revenues, which has Computer Sciences Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. ranked No. land 2, respectively; Nothing that has happened in the past six weeks is likely to change that designation.

Mark Lacter Editor