The need for information in developing countries in Asia (and elsewhere) is crucial, while traditional methods for importing it are costly and inefficient, including the employment of foreign experts, purchase of foreign materials, and overseas training. In addition to books, journals. documents, and other standard formats, there is a need for communication and exchange of ideas between individuals and groups in the East and the West. The Internet and new information technologies make it possible to procure much of the knowledge, and conduct many of the exchanges that are needed, across boundaries and time zones at high speed and low cost. However, physical connection to the networks, by itself, is not enough to bring these benefits. The spread of the Internet to China, Vietnam and other countries has increased the demand for applications and services, including person- mediated support, that make access to the networks and their information contents fully available. Without such services, many users will remain information-isolated in the future as they have been in the past, and research and development efforts may suffer.