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.
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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Teclention
Created by: ziggy41
Pronunciation: (Tuh-CLENCH-en)
Sentence: I can't get this stupid teclention to ever work!
Etymology: Deflected (broke, unable to use properly), + technological (pertaining to technology), + invention (something patented or fabricated)
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)
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)
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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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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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
Technomitation
Created by: Ahmad
Pronunciation: tekno-mitashn
Sentence: The scientist would never succeed in over coming the technomitaton of even the advanced technology.
Etymology: Technology means advanced scientific knowledge. limitation means drawbacks or harms etc.
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James