This paper draws on an extensive review of literature associated with telecommuting and looks at features that might affect the offering and take-up of distance education, particularly distance education involving computer applications, telecommunications and web-based, off-campus delivery of courses or components of courses. The issue is discussed from the perspective of the individual, the organization (the educational institution) and the wider community. The aim of the paper is to put forward a possible research model for the evaluation of distance education. Includes two figures: a task model and a research model. (Contains 43 references.) (Author)