No Monday morning quarterbacking here, Monday morning work etiquette.
In Minding the Meeting, or your Computer? (NY Times) , Dean Hachamovitch of Microsoft gives his take on the proper use of Laptops and Phones while attending meetings and conferences.
Personally I think that if the topic is complicated all the attention should be paid to what is discussed for a full understanding.
At conferences, book discussions and the like I find it rude towards the presenter to be checking your e-mail or whatever else instead of listening.
After my first experience with CoWorking at Jelly in New York , I was also left pondering how you can share ideas and brainstorm with others in that type of setting if everyone is self-absorbed, doing their stuff, kinda alone together.
Do you set times during the day when human interaction takes place otherwise what’s the point?
Above all, at public meetings turn off your phone. In other settings put it in ‘silent’ or ‘vibrate’ mode.
My 2 cents.
Related: Had a taste of ‘Jelly’ this morning plus Twitter, Blackberries and the Age of Constant Interruption and ‘Out of Office’ Reply