Marie Van Brittan Brown: Inventor of the Modern Home Security System

Marie Van Brittan Brown knew what she was missing—safety.

Crime was rampant in her Queens, New York, neighborhood, and police response times were notoriously slow. That just wouldn’t do for the 43-year-old nurse. So, she took matters into her own hands.

With the help of her husband, an electronics technician, they got to work. Since they both worked odd hours, and she didn’t feel comfortable being home alone in the evenings, they wanted a way to increase safety.

As a result, they put together several components and came up with something ahead of its time: the first-ever home security system.

Brown’s invention included peepholes, a camera, monitors, a two-way microphone, and eventually a button that would connect with police. The couple filed for a patent for what they called “Home Security System Utilizing Television Surveillance” in 1966. Their application was approved on December 2, 1969.

Thus, the modern home security system as we know it was born.

Granted, that early system looks a lot different than systems of today, But Brown was innovative for the time. She used the 1960s technology that was available and put it together in a new way and for a new application.

Details of her original system as shown on the patent:

• Four peepholes on the front door to view people of varying heights.

• A motorized camera that could slide up and down and look through the peepholes.

• Radio-controlled wireless system that would transfer images from the camera into a monitor elsewhere in the home (bedroom, for example). That way, Brown could “see” who was at the door without opening the door or even being at the door.

• Two-way microphone so Brown could talk to people at the door easily.

• Button to alert police of a possible threat.

• Remote to unlock the front door for trusted visitors or even emergency responders.

Immediately people saw the value in the development. The New York Times featured her in an article dated December 6, 1969. Plus, Brown received an award from the National Scientists Committee for the invention.

While the idea was great, it would take a number of years before the system was at a price point where it could be used by the masses. The couple installed a version in their own home, and over the coming years, businesses were able to install one as well.

As quoted in the article, Brown said, “A woman alone could set off an alarm immediately by pressing a button, or if the system were installed in a doctor's office, it might prevent hold-ups by drug addicts.”

Thanks to advances in technology and lower cost of equipment needed for a security system, today people all over the world benefit from her invention. Thanks to her ingenuity in using a combination of video monitoring, remote locks, alarm buttons, and two-way communication, many people are kept safe.

At Cove, we're proud of Brown's efforts. We believe everyone deserves to feel safe, and she has helped make it possible. If you want more peace of mind in your home, click below to take our quiz.