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.
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.
Technotlogical
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: tek-not-lodge-ee-call
Sentence: The manual was written in such technotlogical terminology that no one really understood how to actually use the product. Nevertheless, it was a cool piece of technogadgetry and everyone wanted one.
Etymology: technological: relating to or or resulting from technology + not: a logical operator that returns a false value if the operand is true and a true value if the operand is false (whatever that means) + logical: rational, reasonable or sensible
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COMMENTS:
like it - galwaywegian, 2009-10-07: 06:05:00
yes often so true! Good word! - splendiction, 2009-10-07: 21:42:00
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Stymieware
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)
Vistappointment
Created by: Alchemist
Pronunciation: vis-tah-POYNY-ment
Sentence: That new self-walking dog leash I bought online turned out to be a big Vistappointment. I couldn't even get it configured to my breed, it kept defaulting to "shih tsu". What a rip!
Etymology: Vista (you know) + disappointment
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COMMENTS:
very topical! - galwaywegian, 2007-03-21: 06:43:00
I don't normally appreciate topical verboticisms, but this one actually rolls off the tongue nicely. - Discoveria, 2007-03-21: 08:44:00
for relief of normal verboticism, apply topically...:-) - Alchemist, 2007-03-21: 09:19:00
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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)
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"
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)
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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Hardprove
Created by: arlouxo
Pronunciation: hardproove
Sentence: why do you have to hardprove everything?
Etymology: hard: because it became harder / prove: from "improve" because you have moved on
Techbotcholy
Created by: erasmus
Pronunciation: teck bot ch olly
Sentence: the techbotcholy at our office is so unusable you cant even type your name in without it changing to Korean keyboard layout.
Etymology: from technology and botch
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James