This week, Brava, a company that makes countertop consumer appliances that cook with light, has announced the launch of the first major update to the software since 2021.
The biggest change announced is the ability to fully access and control the Brava through the app. Unlike previous versions, which required some interaction with the Brava’s touchscreen, users can now manage ingredient selection, doneness, and recipe instructions entirely through the Brava app, reducing reliance on the oven’s interface. This update is particularly impactful for those with physical limitations, allowing them to enjoy the Brava’s convenience and precision with ease.
While full app control of an appliance is something some folks make like (and others may hate), what’s neat about this update is that Brava chose to also enable new features that make the Brava more accessible to individuals who are blind or have low-vision.
As can be seen in the video below, the key advancement hear is the Brava app works with screen readers, which are digital assistants that work with apps that allow those that are blind or have low vision to navigate.
“Screen readers so it changes the behavior of your touchscreen device, “said Fernando Macias, Access Technology Specialist at San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. “So that everything you touch on the screen, (the screen reader) will read out loud, and that is what enables us to navigate, especially if you’re a blind or have have low vision.” Brava worked with San Francisco Lighthouse to enable the screen reader features.
In addition to greater accessibility features for low-vision users and full control of the appliance via the app, the updated software provides users with more granular info on light intensity and duration parameters that drive each recipe, empowering them to modify or create recipes with greater insight.
Long-time Spoon readers may recall that The Spoon was the first press org to get a look at the Brava back in 2018. Just over a year after the Brava was introduced to the work, Middleby acquired the company. Interestingly, Brava’s founding team (Thomas Cheng, Daniel Yue, and John Pleasants) are all still with the company five years after the acquisition, a sign that Middleby continues to invest and show interest in the platform.
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