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.
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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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
Regenerrorate
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)
Innocumberance
Created by: PythianHabenero
Pronunciation: in-no-cumber-ants
Sentence: Voice recognition software is universally an innocumberance.
Etymology: "innovation" + "encumberance".
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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Dimvention
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: dim ven shun
Sentence: The new time-saving innovation in lighting should have been a breeze. But people tend to overthink things and could not understand that if you clapped your hands once, the light would go on, twice and it would brighten in intensity and three times it would turn off. Some people clapped all night trying to get this dimvention right...
Etymology: Dim (lacking clarity or distinctness;slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity)& Invention ( creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation)
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
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James