Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A technological innovation that doesn't work as expected because "normal people" can't figure out how to use it. v. To improve something in a way that makes it much harder to use.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Complacate
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: com plak kayt
Sentence: Initially when you had an IT problem, you just phoned Fred and he'd either tell you how to fix it or come and do it for you. When they installed a new system, they added a voice mail system to log complaints. It was intended to complacate the user. Your complaint was registered, but you had to go through an e-labourate series of "Press this, press that" options. You got nowhere but they figured all that button pushing kept you busy and entertained until they could figure out how you had screwed up their expensive system.
Etymology: Complicate (make more complex, intricate;confusing) & Placate (cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of;lull;mollify)
Hellectrodevice
Created by: splendiction
Pronunciation: hell EK tro de VICE
Sentence: “Please select one of the following options”, droned the hellectrodevice. She promptly hung up. Why waste time hoping to navigate through quirky voice menu-mazes?
Etymology: From: hell, electric, and device.
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COMMENTS:
Hate them, too! - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 23:48:00
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Cyberk
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: s eye burk
Sentence: If she counted up the hours she spent speaking to cyberks, it would far outweigh time spent speaking to friends family and pets.
Etymology: cyber, berk.
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COMMENTS:
a person could go positively cyberzerk! - Alchemist, 2007-03-21: 06:04:00
or sigh berzerk - galwaywegian, 2007-03-21: 08:00:00
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Technotogy
Created by: Osomatic
Pronunciation: teck + not + oh + gee
Sentence: Your hand held may do everything, but if the buttons are too small to use it's really technotogy, wouldn't you say?
Etymology: "Technology" with one letter substituted. See if you can guess which one.
Techurdle
Created by: wordmeister
Pronunciation: tech-her-del
Sentence: Windows Vista is so full of techurdles that it practically trips over itself everytime it starts up.
Etymology: tech+hurdle
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COMMENTS:
I like that one! - jedijawa, 2007-03-22: 00:10:00
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Einstymie
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: EIN-sty-mee
Sentence: Sue was all thrilled to get her new cell phone, but after reading through the 245 page manual and realizing she didn't have a clue as to how to turn on the damn thing, she realized she had purchased yet another Einstymie.
Etymology: Einstein, stymie (A situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it.)
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COMMENTS:
very good - Jabberwocky, 2007-03-21: 11:31:00
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Guytech
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: gītek
Sentence: Bryan\'s life is full of guytech devices. From his watch that keeps time in eight time zones, functions as a stop watch, alarm, gaming device and spy camera to his laptop computer or Crackberry, if it*s new and cool he has it. Does he know how any of it works? Not a clue! He likes to babble in jargon even when he makes no sense but, truth be known, he has a VCR sitting next to his 90-inch hi-def TV that has blinked 12:00 since the day he got it.
Etymology: guy (a man) + tech (technology) a play off of high-tech
Technospastic
Created by: Sketchy
Pronunciation: tech-NO-spas-TIC
Sentence: Shirley was feeling technospastic after hours of trying to figure out her new universal remote. "Screw It"! She grumbled to herself, as she hurled the badget at the television set, and got up to change the channel.
Etymology: technology, techno, spastic, spasm
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COMMENTS:
Thank you bulletchewer for "badget". - Sketchy, 2007-03-21: 14:52:00
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Unnovation
Created by: urbanwookie
Pronunciation: uhn-o-vay-shun
Sentence: After field trials of his latest product design, Geoff quickly realised that adding a cigarette lighter to a diver's watch was an unnovation...
Etymology: a contraction of "un" and "innovation"
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James