It is believed that many more crimes and burglaries would occur without the invention of the home security system. In fact, there is a growing need for home security systems, with statistics demonstrating that approximately 2,800 burglaries occur in the United States every day.
This is why it’s estimated that nearly 30% of all homes in the United States have installed a home security system by utilizing the services of reputable security companies like Sentry Communications. Yet, despite home security being a hot topic, not many people know the true history behind home security systems.
If you have wondered who is to thank for the invention of this innovative technological security advancement, you need not ponder any longer. Our article will discuss who invented the home security system, why it was invented, and what it looked like. Modern systems have advanced, but without this first system, they might not have.
Contrary to popular belief, the home security system is not a recent invention. According to historical accounts, the first home security system was invented by African American inventor Marie Van Brittan Brown in 1966, with the patent granted in 1969.
It is noted that her invention was the first closed-circuit television security system. Without Brown’s invention, the world would not have the tools it needs to develop a safer society. With the help of her husband, she was able to pave the way for modern home security, even though her invention would not be adapted for use until after her death.
Now that you know who invented the first home security system, you’re likely wondering why it was created. To understand why she developed the security system, you need to understand a bit more about her story.
Brown was a nurse living in Queens in the 1960s, which wasn’t an area known as one of the safest. Although she didn’t live alone as she stayed with her husband Albert, who was an electrician, they were both working odd shifts.
Since she would often arrive home late and be by herself, she would feel unsafe and afraid. This is primarily because crimes in Queens were noted as experiencing a significant increase (32%) between 1960 and 1965.
With increased crime occurring, police were slow to answer emergency calls. So because she wanted to feel safer at home, she decided to do something about it, and thus she invented the first home security system with the help of her husband, as we mentioned previously.
Marie had the idea but needed help with the technical know-how, which is why she enlisted the help of her husband to design and construct her invention. With her husband’s skills, they created a home security system that could be affixed to a front door.
This contraption offered four peepholes, and through these peepholes, a motorized video camera would view visitors. Interestingly the motorized camera was able to view visitors of different heights as the operator of the camera toggled it up and down. The visitors could be seen because the camera was connected to a television monitor inside a home.
Additionally, this home security system also had a microphone and speaker so that the operator inside the home could interrogate a visitor. There was also an alarm built in that could alert the police if something was wrong via radio.
Even though her invention was not widely manufactured because of its cost, it still significantly influenced the home security industry.
The home security system has come a long way since its invention in the 60s. If you would like to make your home safer and install a home security system, you can talk to the experts at Sentry Communications. We can help you choose the best system for your needs. To speak with us, all you have to do is contact us here or call us at 1-866-5-SENTRY.
