Year: 1966​

Who: Marie Van Brittan Brown​

Where: Dahlgren, Virginia​

What: Marie Van Brittan Brown revolutionized safety with her invention of the first home security system, laying the foundation for modern closed-circuit television (CCTV) technology. Born on October 22, 1922, in Jamaica, Queens, New York, Brown’s innovative thinking arose from a desire to protect her home in a high-crime neighborhood.

A nurse by profession, Brown often worked long hours and irregular shifts, leaving her home vulnerable at night. Her husband, Albert Brown, an electronics technician, also worked unpredictable hours, further contributing to her concern. Motivated by the need for a sense of security, Brown decided to create a system that would allow her to see and communicate with visitors without opening the door.

In 1966, with her husband's technical expertise, Brown designed a security system that included four peepholes, a sliding camera, television monitors, two-way microphones, a remote-controlled door lock, and an emergency alarm button to alert authorities. This system allowed users to see individuals of varying heights through the sliding camera and interact with them safely from inside their homes. The emergency button provided an added layer of protection by notifying police or security personnel if needed.

In 1969, Brown and her husband received U.S. Patent No. 3,482,037 for their invention. Although it was not mass-produced due to high manufacturing costs, their work garnered significant recognition, including coverage in The New York Times and an award from the National Scientists Committee.

Brown’s legacy endures through her invention, which has been cited in over 30 subsequent patents and serves as the basis for home security systems used in homes, offices, banks, and apartment complexes today. Marie Van Brittan Brown passed away in 1999 at the age of 76, leaving behind a safer world through her visionary contributions.

Sources:

Websites:

• Lemelson-MIT Program. (n.d.). Marie van Brittan Brown. https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/marie-van-brittan-brown

• Princeton University. (n.d.). Marie van Brittan Brown. https://cst.princeton.edu/people/marie-van-brittan-brown

• Association for Women in Science (AWIS). (n.d.). Marie van Brittan Brown. https://awis.org/historical-women/marie-van-brittan-brown/

Journal Articles:

• Abu, M. A., Nordin, S. F., Suboh, M. Z., Yid, M. S. M., & Ramli, A. F. (2018). Design and development of home security systems based on internet of things via favoriot platform. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, 13(2), 1253-1260.