Abstract: A presentation system for displaying a presentation at multiple computer systems. One computer system is designated as a presenter computer system, and the other computer systems are designated as audience member computer systems. Each computer system executes an application that exposes a function for controlling the behavior of the application. Each computer system also has a conference subsystem with a messaging component, an automation component, and a user interface component. The messaging component controls communications between the computer systems. The automation component controls the behavior of the application using the exposed function. The user interface component displays the presentation within a conference window, receives commands from a presenter and sends the commands to each audience member computer system, receives commands from the presenter computer system, and directs the automation component to effect the performing of behavior of the received commands.