Celebrating a milestone of the Computational Audiology Network

Written by Jan-Willem Wasmann, using Jenni AI and Grammarly. – I couldn’t find a way to create a more modest tone ;-). Afterwards, I ran it typing Mind (that uses an OpenAI API) with the following prompt: “Fix all the grammar errors in the text below. Only fix grammar errors, do not change the text style. Then explain the grammar errors in a list format.”

With the computational audiology network, we have achieved a significant accomplishment by reaching 100,000 website visitors within four years. Let’s take a moment to look back at the route that led us here and acknowledge the individuals and groups who helped us throughout this journey.

21 June 2020, one day after VCCA2020, it felt like cleaning up your apartment after a large party. However, there was a sense of satisfaction mixed with exhaustion as we reflected on the success and growth of our network. It was almost unimaginable that the day before, almost 300 researchers and clinicians had gathered and spent a great time together. Now the digital venue was quiet and empty, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy of the day before.

How had it all started? In February 2019, the website computationalaudiology.com was registered. But it started with a dormant life. Only a year later, when the idea for the first VCCA was launched, did content emerge. The Virtual Conference on Computational Audiology (VCCA) was the first event that brought the network to life and set the foundation for future events. It was like a phoenix that had appeared out of nowhere, fueled by the dedication of our Radboudumc team members and the many contributors from across the globe.

In the autumn of 2021, it was clear that the same organizers could not pull this off again. A very important decision was that Tobias Goehring from the Cambridge Hearing Group stepped forward as the VCCA2021 organizer. This allowed for the expansion and improvement of our network, as well as the successful organization of subsequent events. The phoenix reemerged again in June 2021 and again a year later with the team from Volker Hohmann, who organized the VCCA2022 with the Hearing4all (University of Oldenburg and Hannover Medical School).

As we celebrate this milestone of 100,000 website visitors, we are grateful for the support and contributions of all the volunteers, organizations, and sponsors. Without their dedication and hard work, none of this would have been possible.

But more importantly, the futuristic ideas shared back in June 2020 seem all too normal. One can even experience future nostalgia if they look back on this moment from a few years down the line, realizing how quickly the field of computational audiology has progressed and how it continues to evolve, driving innovation and improving the lives of individuals with hearing loss.

The Virtual Conference on Computational Audiology has not only created a platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration, but it has also played a pivotal role in advancing the field of computational audiology and bringing together researchers and clinicians from around the world. We can only imagine what the future holds for this rapidly evolving field, but we are confident that the VCCA will continue to be a driving force behind its growth and development for years to come.

 

Grammar Errors:

  1. Capitalization Error – Computational Audiology Network, Cambridge Hearing Group, the Hearing4all
  2. Spelling Error – June is spelled as “juni.”
  3. Punctuation Errors – Errors in comma placement, such as “With the Computational Audiology Network, we have achieved a significant accomplishment by reaching 100,000 website visitors within four years” should be “With the Computational Audiology Network, we have achieved a significant accomplishment by reaching 100,000 website visitors within four years,” and “But more importantly, the futuristic ideas shared back in June 2020 seem all too normal” should be “But more importantly, the futuristic ideas shared back in June 2020 seem all too normal.”
  4. Grammatical Errors – “It’s take a moment to look back at the route,” should be “Let’s take a moment to look back at the route,” and “In the autumn of 2021, it was clear that the same organizers could not pull this off again” should be “In the autumn of 2021, it was clear that the same organizers could not pull this off again.”