Since World War I, the Natuurkundig Laboratorium has been a crucial center of industrial research for Philips, one of the world's largest electronics companies. In this study, Marc J. de Vriesdemonstrates how the history of the laboratory can help us understand important changes in the production and uses of technology in the twentieth century.

Breaking their study into three periods, each characterized by different research goals and approaches, the authors augment this general history with detailed case studies. The result will be of value to anyone studying the history and philosophy of technology.