the barriers to home cooking. These features are particularly beneficial for users of assistive technology (AT), for whom these challenges are often magnified. HOW DOES IT WORK? Whereas traditional ovens use heating elements to gradually store energy in the chamber walls and air, Brava cooks with light. Using six special lamps—three on the top and three on the bot- tom—Brava focuses all of its energy directly into the food, like a spotlight, rather than into the chamber walls. This innovative approach provides several unique cooking benefits: 1. Increased Cooking Power: While most ovens top out at 500 degrees, Brava can reach an effective cooking power equivalent to a 900-degree pizza oven. This allows it to perform tasks typically reserved for grills or stovetops. The extra power also allows Brava to cook most meals 2-4x faster than a traditional oven. 1. Instant Full Power: The lamps reach full cooking power in just under a second, eliminating the need for preheat- ing. Additionally, since the entire chamber doesn’t heat up, the food stops cooking immediately when the lamps shut off. 1. Multi-Zone Cooking: Brava can cook independently in three different zones, allowing users to prepare steak, potatoes, and broccoli simultaneously, with each item cooking to perfection. 1. Safety: Brava’s exterior remains cool to the touch, pre- venting burns from accidental contact. The automatic shutoff feature stops cooking when the recipe is com- plete, mitigating risks of overcooking or fire hazards. Bra- va’s system fully automates the cooking process without the need for flipping or stirring, reducing potential burn risks from interacting with hot pans and open flames. The lamps will also automatically shut off whenever the door is open.
Brava's homescreen showing a list of options
Brava’s unique versatility means that it is powerful enough to sear a steak and delicate enough to poach eggs. Frozen foods and reheated leftovers are cooked almost as fast as in a micro- wave, but with the crisping and quality of an oven. The automat- ed recipes ensure consistently delicious results, with minimal user interaction. Brava achieves these capabilities through sophisticated soft- ware, with over 8,500 chef-crafted recipes built into the device. The touch screen allows users to browse the recipe library and select their preferences. Users are then presented with guided instructions on how to prepare their ingredients and assemble them on the tray. Once the tray is placed in the cold oven, the user simply presses a button, and the oven does the rest. An in- ternal camera displays the food on the screen while cooking and streams it to a mobile app. The app can pause cooking remotely and send notifications when cooking starts or completes. In addition to the built-in recipes, Brava also offers traditional manual modes like toast, bake, air fry, sear(broil), slow cook, and dehydrate, so users can still enjoy their favorite family recipes. The custom cook feature lets users save their own recipes for future use with the push of a button, and they can share their creations with friends or the community. APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY While the convenience of quick, easy, and delicious meals benefits everyone, it is particularly impactful for many AT users. Safety is a primary concern. Traditional ovens and stovetops pose
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