I think this post is a great discussion starter. I attend a variety of meetings and the use of electronic devices is sometimes helpful, necessary, and beneficial. For me, the issue is one of being "fully present." In my work with students, the cell phone has become an appendage and creates an immediate distraction from what is going on right in front of them.

I like the idea of setting ground rules at the start of a meeting. If the idea of "rules" seems autocratic, then stating clear expectations at the start of the meeting helps to set the tone for the importance of everyone's time together.

Of all the devices, I think a tablet is the least intrusive and most helpful in a meeting. Cell phones are too easy to text from and laptops put a monitor in between the person and the group. I use my iPad during meetings to both type and write notes, manage to-do's from the meeting, and check calendar items.