This paper proposes a new type of asynchronous group communication too
l called an information rendezvous system. The purpose of the system i
s to mediate between producers and consumers of information. Among oth
er attributes, information rendezvous systems rely on the knowledge of
the user community in determining the relevance of information. We al
so two describe two prototypes that demonstrate the feasibility of the
information rendezvous concept. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.