A European partner of mine has been collecting some related concepts under the badge of TeleCommunityCenter.

Some of this collected information might be useful for Coworking efforts.

From TeleCommunity.info:

What is a TeleCommunity?

A TeleCommunity is a social network, of which the members collaborate online. Participants may include managers, designers, programmers, researchers, marketeers, lawyers, trainers, sales reps, cybrarians, people involved in education (including students and housewives), consultants, journalists,... and all other creative knowledge workers including writers, film makers, musicians... from all over the world, connected to each other over the Internet.

Collaboration can be for profit, or on a not-for-profit basis.

Sometimes collaboration happens for 100% online, but often it involves a mix of online and face-to-face activities.

TeleCommunities can be formed between people working for the same organization, but more and more individual Internauts are participating in TeleCommunities through informal and formal markets for knowledge and other culture products.

What is a TeleCommunity Center?

Often people lose hours in traffic jams between their homes and work. They sometimes don't find enough time to be there for their children and other activities.

People who telework from home, often miss tech support and training. They sometimes also lack the social network to help them with child care, shopping and other household chores.

TeleCommunity Centers form the missing link between telework and work at the office because they succesfully pool resources and provide the services and social network that most knowledge workers and organizations need, in a central place that is conveniently located in the neighborhood.

TeleCommunity Centers are the 'neighborhood offices' of the 21st century, but they also provide a supportive environment with various optional services.

Companies let their employees work part-time in TeleCommunity Centers because they are motivated and productive, have the possibility to obtain 'personal upgrades' and network with others. Meetings can also be done in a videoconferencing room and physical meeting rooms, equipped with beamers, flip charts etc.

TeleCommunity Center services are relatively inexpensive because tech support and most training can be outsourced, time is won and office space can be saved. Additional services are sometimes paid for by the employer as an incentive.

Typical activities in a TeleCommunity Center include various types of knowledge/computer work, training and networking:

1. research - participation in an open market of enriching ideas and visions
2. processing and sharing: case and file management, writing of reports and articles, creation of (web)presentations, (web)marketing
3. innovation: translation of specialized knowledge and other enriching culture products and experiences such as WebDesks, interactive WebSites and WebPresentations,... into high quality products, services and lifestyles using personal knowledge management and WebWorkspaces
4. trade of knowledge and other enriching culture products and experiences in informal and formal markets (TeleCommunity Exchanges and WebStores)
5. online consultancy
6. webconference hosting
7. website and database maintenance
8. prospection
9. follow up of clients by (IP)phone, e-mail
10. (video)meetings with clients or prospects
11. (video)meetings with colleagues and project partners from around the world
12. (web)training activities
13. (tele)classes and presentations
14. (e)banking, (e)governance activities (global brainstorms: using common brain power to solve local and other problems)
15. writing related to quotes, grants, etc.
16. various activities appreciating and celebrating positive aspects of one's own culture and cultural diversity

Apart from knowledge and culture related jobs, TeleCommunity Centers also form hubs for many down-to-earth economic activities, including delis and lunch gardens, ironing services, bike sales and repair, dispatching and delivery services, small supermarkets etc.

Typical components of a TeleCommunity Center:

1. reception desk and administrative services: telephone switchboard, fax, photocopy, CD/DVD-copy, website maintenance, presentation support, beamer, paper shop, whiteboards and whiteboard markers
2. wifi / plug-in desks / cyber cafe: wireless broadband Internet and printing, wireless phones, web support, tech support, database support, webconference support, website design and hosting, TeleCommunity software for managing knowledge and social capital (e.g. WebAssistant TeleCommunity platform)
3. auditorium / multimedia-presentation space and podium
4. breakout rooms / meeting spaces
5. relax / reading space
6. privacy walls on wheels
7. light, ergonomic modular desks and chairs, other chairs for special events that easily fold
8. videoconference suite
9. child care and playroom
10. garden

Some TeleCommunity Centers also have other creative infrastructure, including a multimedia studio, special printers, often organized and managed by an artist cooperative that also rents out art works.