Ross Mayfield has a post about "multi-modal communication tools in meetings" which gives flesh and blood to Cory Doctorows fictional ad-hoc leadership who back channels and pings each other's whuffie during committee. The only thing missing of course is that software tool for Whuffie. But I guess for now people can boink Google and Whois for background. (you might even find more info then you want or need.)
see photo of one such meeting