About the Invention of the Home Security System

Past Security Systems

• The first security systems were developed by telegraph delivery companies, such as today's ADT. In 1874, ADT was known as American District Telegraph, according to the company's website, ADT.com. In the early years, security systems mainly catered to businesses, where call boxes were used for interactive communication between security guards and police or fire departments.

Development

• ADT continued to develop security technology. With the introduction of advanced call boxes, security guards at businesses were able to contact ADT directly, in addition to police and fire departments. This development allowed guards to "check in" with ADT at a prescheduled time to notify the company that the business was sound. If ADT did not hear from the guard at the scheduled time, it assumed there was a problem and sent assistance.

Breakthrough

• In 1966, African-American inventor Marie Van Britten Brown, along with her partner Albert Brown, applied for a patent for a closed-circuit television security system. In 1969, the patent was approved, and shortly thereafter, in 1974, ADT and other security companies began using microcomputer-based security systems. Seven years later, ADT introduced its first microcomputer-based residential security system, which was called Safewatch.

Today

• "Today's home security industry offers as many options for home security as there are reasons to have some in place," said Buffy Pollock in a June 8, 2007, article in Oregon's Mail Tribune. "Most companies offer a free evaluation to discuss a customized system." Today's home security systems can include detectors for smoke, fire and carbon monoxide, as well as infrared and heat sensors, among other options.

Prices

• Modern home security systems can range from $100 for installation and a $30 or $40 per month fee to thousands of dollars for installation, based on the complexity of the system and extent of security system service.

  "The electronics that are in your house are just half the battle," said SOS Alarm consultant Henry Knepp in the Mail Tribune article. "The other component, and the one that's most important, is the actual office where monitoring takes place. It's really important to have someone local who's keeping an eye on things."