The invention concerns a system and method for enabling remote
conferencing between conference participants. Employing the invention
involves the use of one or more forms which support interaction with a
computer system or network. Each form is printed on sheet material such
as paper and includes coded data which allows it to be used to interact
with the computer system via a sensing device operated by a
user.Specifically, the method includes the steps of providing a
participant with at least one conferencing form containing information
relating to a remote conferencing session and including coded data
indicative of an identity of the conferencing form and of at least one
reference point of the conferencing form, receiving, in a computer
system, indicating data from a sensing device operated by said conference
participant involved in the conference session, said indicating data
regarding the identity of the conferencing form and a position of the
sensing device relative to the conferencing form, the sensing device,
when placed in an operative position relative to the conferencing form,
sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data,
identifying in the computer system and from the indicating data, at least
one parameter relating to the conferencing session, and providing at
least one other conference participant remote from said conference
participant with at least one conferencing form containing information
representative of the at least one parameter.The invention can be
employed by geographically distributed participants to communicate
graphical ideas via a shared `whiteboard` using interactive surface media
while engaged in a telephone conference. Every time a participant adds a
modification or a new diagram to the whiteboard, the other participants
can be provided with a printed copy of the updated page.