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.

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Verboticisms

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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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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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Glitchtech

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: glitsch-tek

Sentence: As usual, the latest innovation offered by the software provider contained the usual abundance of glitchtech making it almost impossible to use by anyone other than a seasoned techie.

Etymology: Blend of 'glitch' (a minor problem that causes a temporary setback a snag) and 'tech', abbreviation for technology

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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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Badget

Created by: Bulletchewer

Pronunciation: bajj-it

Sentence: The old woman thought everything was a badget; the keyboard had too many keys, the cell phone was too small and as for the microwave...

Etymology: From "bad" and "gadget".

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COMMENTS:

very funny! - Sketchy, 2007-03-21: 14:41:00

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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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Techillogical

Created by: toadstool57

Pronunciation: tec-ill-logic-al

Sentence: Jills lack of experience using modern technology lead to her techillogical operation of the DVD player she just purchased.

Etymology: technologic/illogical

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COMMENTS:

so close to perfect, wish I'd thought of: techNILLogical - aly22, 2007-03-21: 16:11:00

I also thought it looked a bit tetchy which also fits. woo. gets my vote. - erasmus, 2007-03-30: 06:20:00

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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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