CENTER SHOWS OFF COMPUTER COMMUTE.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

The 2,000-square-foot portion of the Civic Arts Plaza looks like abandoned office space - the desks sit empty, there are few chairs and certainly none of the modern equipment found in today's offices.

But the consultants putting together the city's telecommuting demonstration center have a vision.

``Imagine this room full of computers. The whole room will be wired for every kind of telecommunications you can imagine,'' said Wendell Hahm, one of the consultants, pointing to an empty office, ``every kind of computer you can imagine: Sun, IBM, Apple.''

On to the next office, where Hahm said visitors will be able to sample how fast e-mail and computer files travel across the country or across the room.

The room will have an invisible line through it with one side set up like a home office and the other set up like a corporate office. Visitors will be able to sit down, link up and send information from a computer on one side of the room to the one on the other side. It doesn't matter how close the desks are because it all has to travel through CompuServe in Ohio, Hahm said.

``It will demonstrate how fast information can travel, whether it's 10 feet or 2,000 miles,'' Hahm said.

For some, linking up to a work system from a personal computer at home has become a way of life, or at least a nice way to get through Friday. But the city, which has received a chunk of funding from Caltrans, wants to show those who haven't given computer travel a try a sample of what's available and what can be done through the Telecommuting Center.

``The fun thing, for me, is the concept of the exploratorium,'' said Shirley Cobb, media services manager for the city. ``The whole overview - here it is: software, computers.''

More than that, it acknowledges the Thousand Oaks area as a technology-savvy community that encourages new approaches, said Bill Simmons, another consultant on the project through the Ventura County Economic Development Association.

``Thousand Oaks wants to be recognized as a smart community,'' Simmons said. ``They want to show you how you can use this technology for your own needs.''

Down the hall a little farther, the consultants plan to set up a conference room that will allow people to experience a corporate meeting where everyone is present, even if they're in two different places. Across the hall, visitors can attend classes at USC, Pepperdine, UCLA and others - some through a CD-ROM program that brings the lecture to the room, and others through a live video feed.

``We can have interactive videoconferencing, we can bring in lecturers via video,'' said Candace Robinson, also a consultant on the project. ``The guest speakers don't have to travel - they can come in through video.''

The sampling of possibilities is what makes the project unique, Robinson said.

``Other cities have telecommuting centers that rent out space to companies,'' Robinson said. ``This is for people who are wondering, how can we use this? To be able to come in here and say here it is, is a great concept.''

Those programs are just a portion of what the city hopes to achieve when the setup is complete. Among some of the other considerations is a linkup to federal services that will allow residents to get information on programs and services, and access to the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, a database with information on inventions.

A feasibility study, due for completion in June, will help to set the goals for the project, and some of the equipment should be in place by mid- to late-March.

Though Caltrans, interested in getting people off the freeways, has given the city $1.2 million for the project, the money cannot be used to purchase equipment, Cobb said. The city has contributed about $110,000 and has donated the office space.

As a result, the team of consultants has been approaching high-tech companies for donations so that their equipment can be part of the demonstration, Cobb said.

Some companies approached the city on their own after hearing about the project, eager to let people in on the latest technology and the benefits of it, Cobb said.

``All the companies want to be seen as helping the community,'' Cobb said.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The city of Thousand Oaks is seeking volunteers to serve on a 15-member ad hoc advisory team, which would review proposals for the Telecommuting Center. Those interested in applying may pick up forms from the Media Services Division in the City Manager's Office, City of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., or at Thousand Oaks libraries or the Chamber of Commerce.

An orientation meeting for those interested in serving will be at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the Civic Arts Plaza Board Room. Applications may be submitted at that time or dropped off at the Media Services office.

The commitment would last six months and require about four hours a month. Applicants should have an interest in technology and a history of community activism.

For information, call Shirley Cobb at [phone] or [phone].

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Photo: (1--Ran in Conejo and Simi--color) Consultant Candace Robinson shows some of the equipment planned for a telecommuting demonstration center.

(2--Ran in Conejo and Simi) A camera mounted atop a computer screen allows telecommuters to visually interact with companies and colleagues from their homes.

(3--Ran in Simi only) Consultant Wendell Hahm shows the Exploratory Room at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks where demonstrations will occur.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News

Box: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (see text)