A Brief History Of the Home CCTV Security System

When was it invented and by whom?

An African-American woman by the name of Marie Van Brittan Brown (1922-1999), was the person who invented the first ever home CCTV security system, with the help of her husband Albert Brown.

Marie was born in Queens, New York on October 30, 1922 and became a nurse. Her husband Albert was an electronics technician.

She worked odd hours as a nurse, which left her alone at home quite often and this had a huge impact on her. She began to feel anxious and worried about being inside the house on her own, plus crime was on the increase in the neighbourhood and the police were not responding to victim’s of crime very quickly.

This left Maria and some of the other residents in the area feeling even more vulnerable.

Marie was so concerned she began work on a new invention with her husband Albert.

One of Marie’s biggest fears at home alone was having to answer the door not knowing who was knocking, so she and her husband began work on the first ever home security system.

The new system consisted of a monitorized camera that was attached to a cabinet and then fixed onto the front door. The camera had four viewing peep holes and was able to slide up and down.

Through the top hole you could see if someone tall was at the door, the bottom would show that is was a small child and through the middle two it was any one in between sizes.

The views from the camera could then be looked at via a monitor and could even hear the voice of the caller. The resident could then unlock the door using a remote control if the person knocking was someone they wanted to see.

Marie and Albert also included an alarm button which enabled the resident to contact the police if you felt scared or worried.

The couple applied for a patent in 1966 and it was granted on December 2, 1969.

Marie was presented with an award for her invention from the National Scientists Committee (NSC).

The new CCTV security system was so effective that even businesses began to use Marie’s new invention to help propect their premises.

Thanks to Marie and her husband’s smart invention, homes and businesses throughout the world are able to protect what’s theirs using CCTV technology.

Marie Van Brittan Brown died aged 76, in Queens, New York on February 2, 1999. Marie and Albert had two children, one of which followed in her parent’s footsteps by becoming an inventor herself.

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