Such tasks are way beyond the means of regular smart home cameras and sensors, but the tech isn't quite as magical as it sounds. The researchers are relying on crowd-sourced workers to for complex tasks like counting cars, while easier tasks are calculated by algorithms. However, they hope that computers will gradually take on the more difficult jobs thanks to machine learning systems, eliminating the human factor.

Asking a machine to make complex observations sounds a bit far-fetched, given that IBM's supercomputer-based Watson has only just learned to make a Bruschetta. On the other hand, machine vision is getting pretty darn good, and artificial intelligence has advanced enough to scare Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking. Right now Zensor is still in beta testing, but if it ever becomes a thing, it could open up a new way of monitoring your life without sticking chips into everything.