This paper reports on research that aims to understand how complicated new technologies with purportedly transforming consequences for society, such as computers and nuclear power, were explained to the lay public during the first two post-WWII decades. In terms of the conference theme, this is an instance of science communication, which involves a transformation of knowledge to suit a wide range of non-specialists, and dissemination of this transformed knowledge. While ‘computers in the Netherlands’ is the case presented, the more general aim of the presentation is to discuss with other scholars similar studies carried out elsewhere, and explore possibilities of international comparisons. Because these technologies spread internationally, the ways they were understood and represented need to be understood in a transnational framework.

The paper will discuss the source base, theory and methods I have been using, as well as my first results. The source base consists of popular publications appearing regularly during the whole period, esp popular illustrated magazines and comic strips. The methods employed are a longitudinal quantitative analysis of the occurrence of these themes during this period, and a structuralistic content analysis, drawing from literary studies, which aims to identify the main patterns of narrative and counter-narrative, in which knowledge about computers was packaged. Among the findings are the occurrence of two waves of increased attention, the mid-fifties and the late sixties, each focusing on very different concerns, and a surprising overlap in the framing of the theme between these popular publications and debates among intellectuals.