One-quarteroftheU.S.workforcecouldbedoingtheirjobsfromhomeifallthoseabletotelecommutechosetodoso,andallthosepeopleworkingfromhomecouldtranslateintoannualgasolinesavingsof$3.9billion,accordingtotheNationalTechnologyReadinessSurvey.However,manystillselecttoworkattheoffice.Thestudyfoundthat2percentofU.S.workerstelecommutefull-timeandanother9percentdosopart-time.Butanother14percentofworkershavetheoptionoftelecommuting,orhavejobsconductivetothepracticebutchoosenotto.“Thenumberssuggestthatmanypeoplewouldratherworkattheofficeeveniftheirjoballowedtelecommuting,”saidProfessorP.K.Kannan,oftheRobertH.SmithSchoolofBusinessattheUniversityofMaryland.“Thatseemstosuggestthatevenifemployersweretosaytomorrowthateverybodyhadtheoptionoftelecommutingandyouwouldsavealotofgas,that’snotgoingtohappen.Anhypothesiscouldbethatpeoplestillneedthe‘facetime’withtheirbosses.Anotherthingispeoplemissthesocialinteraction,justbeingathome.”Andwithamedianone-waycommuteof10milesandamedianone-waycommutetimeof20minutes,thedailytripformanyworkersisnotthatbad,headded.Ofthosewhocanalreadytelecommute,mostdosoonlyone,twoorthreedaysperweek,thestudyfound.