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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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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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Technifficult

Created by: mweinmann

Pronunciation: tek - nif - eh - kult

Sentence: Seymour found that the voice activated answer lines were very technificult. If he chose option 1, he was only left with three options, none of which fit his question. If he chose option 2, there were four options, unrelated to his question, and so on and so on until he gave up and hung up.

Etymology: technical, difficult

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COMMENTS:

Excellent! - splendiction, 2009-10-07: 21:40:00

We've all been there... - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 23:50:00

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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

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Modconjob

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: mod-con-job

Sentence: It was all hype and bonhomie in the sales pitch, but I've hit the trough of disillusionment with this modconjob.

Etymology: mod con (modern convenience) + con job (trick pulled by a confidence artist)

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Techlessness

Created by: jschrady

Pronunciation: Tek-les-nes

Sentence: Her lack of ability to enter the right pin code, no matter how many times the attendant assisted her, was, frankly, techlessness!

Etymology: Tech- technology Less- having nothing of something Ness- the action

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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)

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Enigmadget

Created by: ErWenn

Pronunciation: /ˌɛnɪɡˈmӕdʒit/

Sentence: I was fairly certain that the enigmadget was supposed to be the new television's remote control, but I couldn't find a single button on it.

Etymology: From enigma + gadget

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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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