Dataföreningar i Sverige: Framväxt och förändringsmönster 1949–1990: Transkript av ett vittnesseminarium vid Tekniska museet i Stockholm den 26 september 2008

The witness seminar ”Dataföreningar i Sverige: Framväxt och förändringsmönster 1949–1990” [Computer Associations in Sweden: Growth, Development and Changes 1949– 1990] was held at Tekniska museet [the National Museum of Science and Technology] in Stockholm on 26 September 2008 and was led by Per Lundin. Representatives from four different computer associations were gathered in order to discuss the organisations and their activities, namely Svenska Dataföreningen, Svenska Samfundet för Informationsbehnadling, Systemutvecklarnas Riksförening and Riksdataförbundet. In 1990 these organisations merged as one organisation. The discussions at the seminar highlighted the various cultures that embodied the different organisations and how they have been organized. However, one aspect that has been a frequent theme in all the organisations is that of education. The organisations have worked with education related to computers on the whole, as well as with further education for its members. These activities have taken place in the form of publications, seminars and conferences. In connection to the matter of education, it was mentioned that the Swedish education system has not been quick enough to establish computer education. Financial difficulties forced the organisations to merge, in order to receive financial support from the industry. This underlines the close connections that these organisations have had with the industry through the years.