Before security systems became an everyday electronic in houses, an African-American nurse named Marie Van Brittan Brown, created an early security system for her own home.
Marie spent many nights at home alone in her Queens, New York apartment while her husband was away. When alone, she felt unsafe with her neighborhood having a high crime rate and police were not known to respond when needed. She took it upon herself to create a device that would help put her mind at ease and allow her to relax.
In 1966, Marie invented a system that used a camera that would allow her to see who was outside her door without looking herself. She was able to have the camera’s view appear on a monitor inside so she could check who it was at her door. Along with the picture, she made a microphone that gave her the ability to speak with whoever was at her door. If she wanted to allow them in, she could push a button that unlocked the door. Also in this system was a button that would contact police if there was an emergency or a need for officers to respond.
Marie and her husband, Albert, took out a patent for the system in the same year, and they were awarded the patent three years later in 1969. Today, many home security systems still commonly have the same elements of Marie’s design. Thanks to Marie, we are able to have the peace of mind of knowing our homes are protected.