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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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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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)

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Hellectrodevice

Created by: splendiction

Pronunciation: hell EK tro de VICE

Sentence: “Please select one of the following options”, droned the hellectrodevice. She promptly hung up. Why waste time hoping to navigate through quirky voice menu-mazes?

Etymology: From: hell, electric, and device.

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COMMENTS:

Hate them, too! - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 23:48:00

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Techbotcholy

Created by: erasmus

Pronunciation: teck bot ch olly

Sentence: the techbotcholy at our office is so unusable you cant even type your name in without it changing to Korean keyboard layout.

Etymology: from technology and botch

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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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Technogression

Created by: sisica

Pronunciation: tek-no-GREH-shun

Sentence: The

Etymology: Technical Regression (with the added bonus of having the feel of "agression") in the word....and I'd think that could be a subsequent feeling to being unable to benefit for the intended technological benefit that is not being met.

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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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