International Women’s Day is the perfect occasion to announce our new series of blogs that will spotlight women leaders, innovators and contributors to the security industry. Representing dealers, suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and frontline staff across Canada, our articles will highlight influential women that have impacted the security profession.
Famous author, Harriet Beecher-Stowe wrote “The past, the present and the future are really one: they are today”, so let me introduce you to some industry pioneers who have made an impact. Anna Connelly
In 1887, Anna filed for a patent for a fire escape bridge that would connect adjacent buildings at the roofline to allow quick escape from the increasing number of high-rises being built in New York City. The design, with steel railings also prevented people from falling during an evacuation and provided a platform for firefighters to haul water. Anna’s invention led NYC to amend the building code to require a second means of egress in case of emergency and is directly responsible for saving the lives of thousands of people for the last 150 years. Hedy Lamarr Best known for her acting ability, Hedy Lamarr was also a physicist and mathematician. At the beginning of WW2, Hedy developed a radio guidance system for torpedoes, but it couldn’t be used as the US Navy was not considering any inventions from outside the military. In 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis, an updated version of her design was rolled out which eventually led to the development of GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi. Hedy’s ingenuity earned her a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Marie Van Brittan Brown Marie and her husband Albert are credited with inventing the closed-circuit television (CCTV) for home monitoring that was the forerunner of the advanced home security technology used today around the world. Living in Queens NY, with a nurse’s schedule, Marie was often home alone and felt vulnerable. Her solution was to place a motorized camera that was able to view the front step through various peep holes, based on the height of the visitor that played the images on the television in her bedroom. Patented in 1966 (diagram) Marie’s patent was mostly referenced by a major manufacturer in 2013. Mary did not make a penny out of her invention. These are just a few of the women who have made a difference. If you know a female security professional, who is an innovator, a leader or perhaps has a keen business sense, please connect with either myself or Jessica Avery.