Have you ever looked at a product and thought – “How did they think of that?” or “If I only thought of it first!” Well, everything started with an idea. This is the story of how an African American woman came up with the formula for alarm systems that we use today.
Marie Van Brittan Brown is to thank for the invention of the home security system. Born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York, she was working long hours as a nurse. Her husband Albert was an electronics technician and worked odd hours, often leaving Marie home alone at night. In order to protect herself in a high crime neighborhood, Marie sought to figure out a way to see what was going on outside her door.
In 1966 with Albert’s technical support, Marie created a security system in their home which consisted of four peepholes, a sliding camera, television monitors, and two-way microphones. These items created was is now known as “CCTV”, or “Closed-Circuit Television System”. The various peepholes and sliding camera helped to capture images of people of different heights. The microphones allowed those inside the house to communicate with those on the outside. She also had a working remote to unlock the door at a safe distance as well as an emergency button that would send an alert to police or security.
The patent was filed in 1966 and was approved three years later. Unfortunately, that’s as far this ahead-of-its-time idea got. She and her husband were unable to find a partner to bring their invention to the masses. There is no doubt today that the Brown invention is the basis for the video security systems that we know today.
Three years later in 1969, Marie and Albert’s invention was recognized by The New York Times and she received an award from the National Scientists Committee for her work. Over 50+ later, Marie Van Brittan Brown’s invention still holds up in today’s society with use in everyday places such as banks, offices, and apartment complexes.
