Technology Needs Subject of Survey

Thousand Oaks is looking for input from residents and business leaders on how technology can enhance their lives as part of the upcoming Telecommunity project at the Civic Arts Plaza.

With money from Caltrans, Thousand Oaks is launching a telecommunications center at the Civic Arts Plaza to try to increase the transfer of ideas and information while letting people stay close to home. To that end, city officials and technology consultants are trying to determine how telecommunications services can benefit Thousand Oaks residents, educators. businesses and government agencies.

“According to a study completed in 1994, Thousand Oaks has one of the highest rates of computer and Internet users of any community in the country,” John Reimers of Ecotek Inc., the consultant hired to conduct the study, said in a news release.

Interested residents can take part in the project by completing a survey that outlines various technological applications and asks for feedback on the usefulness of each. The survey also asks residents what kind of technology they would like to see in a so-called smart community.

Ecotek has placed the survey on the Internet at www.thousandoaks.ecotek.com The Internet site also describes the Telecommunity project and contains links to other Web sites dealing with similar efforts in other communities.

Those without Internet access can get the survey at City Hall or the Thousand Oaks Library, or can call Thousand Oaks’ Media Services Office at 449-2122.