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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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)

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Technocando

Created by: rikboyee

Pronunciation: teck-no-can-do

Sentence: he downloaded it..he installed it..and only after hours of fruitless pointing and clicking and help menuing did he realise he'd fallen for another technocando

Etymology: techno, no can do

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COMMENTS:

funny and appropriate - Jabberwocky, 2007-03-21: 11:32:00

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Guytech

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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Unnovation

Created by: bedens

Pronunciation: un-no-VA-shun

Sentence: "The voice mail tree at XYZ PC Warehouse is a real unnovation."

Etymology: un (not) + novation (from Innovation)

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COMMENTS:

Unnovative word...good one! - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 23:49:00

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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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Technifficult

Created by: mweinmann

Pronunciation: tek - nif - eh - kult

Sentence: Seymour found that the voice activated answer lines were very technificult. If he chose option 1, he was only left with three options, none of which fit his question. If he chose option 2, there were four options, unrelated to his question, and so on and so on until he gave up and hung up.

Etymology: technical, difficult

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COMMENTS:

Excellent! - splendiction, 2009-10-07: 21:40:00

We've all been there... - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 23:50:00

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