See all facts

Did you know that the first home security system was co-invented by an African American woman?
Marie Van Brittan Brown, a full-time nurse, invented the home security system alongside her husband, Albert Brown, in 1966, showcasing a relentless drive to ensure safety. Safety was not a mere word for Marie; it was an urgent concern, as the crime rate in her Queens, New York neighborhood was increasing ominously. She saw the risks that late working hours posed to her when she was alone at home. This concern gave her the idea to develop a device that would provide a set of electronic eyes peering out for protection. Teaming with her husband, an electronics technician, they manifested her vision of a system with cameras, monitors, two-way microphones, and a panic button to contact the police swiftly. Their revolutionary invention was patented on December 2, 1969, under the title 'Home security system utilizing television surveillance. Thus, Marie Van Brittan Brown set the cornerstone for today's multi-billion dollar home security industry, proving that necessity truly is the mother of invention.

Tags: #MarieVanBrittanBrown #HomeSecurity #InventorHistory #SecurityInnovation #WomenInventors