Talk is cheaper. Cities XI. [Telecommunications]

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · IEEE Spectrum; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/MSPEC.1976.6369266· OSTI ID:7353636

Nilles, J M

Commuting by automobile accounts for more than 40 percent of all urban transportation mileage and about 4 percent of total U.S. energy consumption. Consequently, any system for moving work to the worker, rather than moving the worker to work, could have a considerable impact on planning cities of the future. One technique for reducing transporation needs is called telecommuting--the substitution of telecommunications for transportation. It is particularly well suited for use in industries primarily engaged in the collection, storage, and manipulation of information rather than in the manufacture of goods or provision of physical services, or in information components of noninformation industry firms. The telecommuting research project described here was partially funded by the National Science Foundation and was concerned with the locations of businesses within cities with particular emphasis on the phenomenon of commutation to work. The major questions addressed by the project are: (1) how easily and how effectively and under what circumstances can we substitute a computer terminal or similar device for a private automobile in the work situation; and (2) what is likely to be the consequence of this replacement if it occurs on a large scale. (Introduction)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 7353636
• Journal Information: IEEE Spectrum; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Spectrum; (United States) Vol. 13:7; ISSN IEESA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990300 -- Information Handling
AUTOMOBILES
COMMUNICATIONS
COMPUTERS
DATA TRANSMISSION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FORECASTING
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
INSURANCE
PLANNING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TELEMETRY
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
URBAN AREAS
VEHICLES