In this article the author proposes a functional model of meetings based on activity theory. Empirical analysis of meetings provides an insight which differs from their 'official'? definition as it concerns participants' individual motives. In remote meetings two roles, the host and the wizard, become prominent. Finally, the author describes the evolution of experimental conference rooms. The videoconference itself is only one aspect of the communication system; many of its 'traditional'? problems tend to diminish when it is used with a good synchronous collaborative tool such as Gridboard.