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Gas is more than $4 a gallon. Traffic is horrendous. Now is the perfect time to start telecommuting.

You probably have all the technology you need: a telephone, a computer with all the required applications and Internet connectivity. In the old days, putting all this together was difficult. Not anymore. Now everyone can be fully connected, 24 hours a day.

The options for telecommute locations have also expanded. It used to be, you worked at home. Period. 

Now you can work from home, the airport, the train, a hotel, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, McDonald’s or from a TeleWork Center (which Tracy does not have — yet). Cell phones, text messaging, instant messaging, e-mail and the availability of WiFi hot spots make staying connected a snap.

In addition, advanced applications are now available that allow you to communicate with your remote colleagues as easy as if you were in the same physical location.

You can share your computer, give a presentation or work interactively on any document, drawing, or program with products and services such as WebEx (www.webex.com ), Glance (www.glance.net ), GoToMeeting (www.gotomeeting.com). There are many more, but I need to keep this article within 500 words. I have used Glance and WebEx and evaluated WebEx on my YeOldeTechy blog. They are great.

If your boss is an old fashioned boss and wants to “see the whites of your eyes”, you can videoconference. Free videoconferencing is available — all you need is a Web cam. Hook up with a service such as ooVoo (www.ooVoo.com) that allows you to meet with several of your colleagues, exchange files and chat via IM.

Other, standards-based videoconferencing products for your desktop or laptop computer include Mirial Softphone (www.mirial.com ) and Polycom PVX (www.polycom.com). I have tested videoconferencing from McDonalds, Barnes & Noble and Starbucks. It works great!

Of course there are more advanced (and expensive) videoconferencing products for your home or office using your DSL or cable Internet connection from vendors such as Polycom, Tandberg (www.tandbergusa.com), Lifesize (www.lifesize.com), and the ubiquitous Cisco (www.cisco.com).

No more excuses that if you are not seen you are not working — now you can be seen.

The old concept of TeleWork Centers in your Tracy and Mountain House neighborhoods never took off. However, modern versions of this concept are popping up. These centers provide, for a low monthly fee, WiFi access, videoconferencing, a conference room and casual work areas for the commuter who wants to spend a day or two a week closer to home. You might need a group to meet and work — rather than everyone meeting at Starbucks, a TeleWork Center might make more sense.

The world is changing. Save gas, save money, save time, save the environment. Stay connected and see your colleagues and boss. In short, telecommute.

• Mike Pihlman lives in Tracy and has two blogs — one called YeOldeTechy and the other, TracyReaderDad. He can be reached at mike@telbitconsulting.com or http://YeOldeTechy.com.