The Woman Who Invented the First Home Security System
Can you think of coming home late at night, feeling uneasy, and wishing you had eyes on the other side of the door before opening it?
For many of us today, a simple glance at a video doorbell does the trick. But did you know that the concept of home security cameras was pioneered by a remarkable woman in the 1960s?
Yes, the home security system is the brainchild of Marie Van Britan Brown.
Marie is the African American inventor who revolutionised home security. She was born in 1922 in Jamaica. Marie worked as a nurse and mostly reached home at odd hours. Her husband, Albert Brown, was an electronics technician with an equally unpredictable schedule. They were residing in a high-crime neighbourhood with slow police response times, So, Marie decided to take safety into her own hands—literally.
With her husband’s technical expertise, Marie invented the first-ever home security system in 1966. This wasn’t just a simple lock-and-key fix; it was a fully integrated closed-circuit television (CCTV) security system. It featured peepholes at different heights, a sliding camera, two-way microphones, a remote door-unlocking system, and an emergency button that could alert law enforcement.
Talk about thinking ahead!
Her groundbreaking invention was patented in 1969, and while the system wasn’t mass-produced at the time, her design became the blueprint for modern home security.
Her work has since been cited in over 30 subsequent patents, shaping the way we protect our homes today. Marie’s contributions paved the way for the multi-billion-dollar home security industry, making homes, banks, and offices safer across the globe.
Though she passed away in 1999, Marie Van Brittan Brown’s legacy lives on every time someone checks a security camera or speaks through a video intercom. She was a true innovator, proving that necessity is not just the mother of invention—it’s also the mother of safety.
Thanks to Marie, “home safe home” became a reality.