African-American inventors and scientists."

 

 Marie Van Brittan Brown 

(October 30, 1922 – February 2, 1999)

 

Although the system was originally intended for domestic uses, many businesses began to adopt Brown's system given its effectiveness. 

 

As a result of the innovation of a security system, she received an award from the National Science Committee,^[3] officially making her a "part of an elite group of African-American inventors and scientists."

 

 Brown was quoted in the New York Times as saying that with her invention “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 holdups by drug addicts.”^[6]