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'I'm sorry can you repeat that? '

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.

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Verboticisms

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Stymieware

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: stīmēwər

Sentence: Jerry is proud to own the latest, greatest smart phone. It is apparently smarter than him. Yesterday it automatically downloaded and installed the freshest stymieware. It is supposed to give him all kinds of new state-of-the-art capabilities. He is lucky to figure out how to make a phone call. He tried to text his brother but ended up in a video conference call with some guys in Denmark. It might have been interesting if he understood them.

Etymology: stymie (prevent or hinder the progress of) + software (the programs and other operating information used by a computer)

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Digitknowitall

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: dij it no it all

Sentence: Reggie had bought a fancy new digital radio/alarm clock/coffeemaker/toaster. It was designed to be efficient in the morning by waking him up on time and getting his breakfast ready. His new appliance was a digitknowitall. Great in theory, but he could never get the radio station he liked programmed into it, so he had to listen to newscasts in a foreign language. He could also never program in the correct time...it was always an hour behind or so. The coffee tasted like something you would expect would come out of a new computer and the toast was always burned black. His only consolation was that the smoke detector awoke him if the alarm failed, the coffee was a handy extinguisher for the burnt breakfast offerings and his clock was right twice a day.

Etymology: Digital (of a circuit or device that represents magnitudes in digits) & Know-It-All (a person who thinks/behaves as if they know everything, but usually knows less than you would think on a subject).

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COMMENTS:

LOL! I'm still laughing, ha ha! Thanks! - splendiction, 2009-10-07: 21:44:00

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Wrecknology

swallowedbyafish

Created by: swallowedbyafish

Pronunciation:

Sentence: He had been thwarted by another stupid piece of wrecknology!

Etymology: wreck + technology

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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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Regenerrorate

CharlieB

Created by: CharlieB

Pronunciation: re-jen-er-ate

Sentence: Phil Gates's latest update looked ever so flash but also had a tendency to crash the whole system. It was a classic example of some very keen, but slightly over-enthusiastic, egg heads regenerrorating the software.

Etymology: regenerate (to reconstitute in a better form or condition) + error (a mistake, to deviate from accuracy)

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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.

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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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Unnovation

bedens

Created by: bedens

Pronunciation: un-no-VA-shun

Sentence: "The voice mail tree at XYZ PC Warehouse is a real unnovation."

Etymology: un (not) + novation (from Innovation)

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COMMENTS:

Unnovative word...good one! - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 23:49:00

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Indautified

Created by: jonobo

Pronunciation: in - doubtified

Sentence: We are surrounded by indautified technology.

Etymology: In as a negative pre-syllable. DAU = German abbreviation for Stupidest Expected User, so SEU in englich. certified. Short: Technology that is not certified for DAUs/SEUs.

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Whatchamadowithit

Created by: ekath

Pronunciation: whachama-do-with-it

Sentence: Its kind of sad when my mom tries to figure out how to operate her whatchamadowithits. Usually I sigh and show her, for example, how to turn her cell phone on.

Etymology: from whatchamacallit and not-knowing-what-to-do-with-it

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COMMENTS:

Man, I spent almost an hour trying to think of something like this, but the best I could think of was "howjamauseit". I'm glad somebody was able to find a better solution than that. - ErWenn, 2007-03-22: 00:45:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-03-20: 00:11:00
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-07: 00:05:00
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James