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.
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"
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)
Nonnovation
Created by: Koekbroer
Pronunciation: non-oh-vay-shin
Sentence: "Blast! This remote control is so complicated. It's a nonnovation."
Etymology: non; innovate
Defeature
Created by: Discoveria
Pronunciation: Dee-fee-chur
Sentence: The car's inbuilt automatic window-unsteaming feature was nothing but a defeature, because the on/off button was almost under the driver's seat.
Etymology: Defeat + de- + feature. Defeature also happens to be an obsolete word for the noun "defeat" or for a deformity.
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COMMENTS:
Badget was taken by someone else...:D - Discoveria, 2007-03-21: 08:42:00
"Defeature" is better anyway. - ErWenn, 2007-03-21: 17:45:00
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Trekkienology
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: trekee/nawl/ogee
Sentence: I think you have to understand Vulcan to figure out modern trekkienology
Etymology: trekkie + technology
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COMMENTS:
live long and prosper - porsche, 2007-03-21: 11:29:00
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Ditzmo
Created by: jedijawa
Pronunciation: ditz-mo
Sentence: The ditzmo was such a complicated bit of electronics that Bobbie didn't even try to figure it out.
Etymology: ditz (a scatterbrain) + gizmo (a mechanical device)
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COMMENTS:
Perfect! - wordmeister, 2007-03-21: 00:42:00
Simple and cute! Love it! - purpleartichokes, 2007-03-21: 04:39:00
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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.
Gateget
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: gate/jit
Sentence: Another inservice on the latest gateget. I need an inservice on the inservice to figure out all the latest gategets.
Etymology: Bill Gates + gate + gadget
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James