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'I'm sorry can you repeat that? '

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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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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Nonnovation

Created by: Koekbroer

Pronunciation: non-oh-vay-shin

Sentence: "Blast! This remote control is so complicated. It's a nonnovation."

Etymology: non; innovate

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Ineffectualogy

aly22

Created by: aly22

Pronunciation: in-eff-ekt-oo-ology

Sentence: The system's ineffectualogy has slowed business to a crawl.

Etymology: Ineffectual + techonology

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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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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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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"

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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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Guytech

artr

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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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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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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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-03-20: 00:11:00
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-07: 00:05:00
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James