Stores have long spied and eavesdropped on customers, but now they have a still and silent army to aid them in mining data: mannequins. From Andrew Roberts at Bloomberg:

“Store mannequins are meant to catch your eye. Soon you may catch theirs.

Benetton Group SpA is among fashion brands deploying mannequins equipped with technology used to identify criminals at airports to watch over shoppers in their stores.

Retailers are introducing the EyeSee, sold by Italian mannequin maker Almax SpA, to glean data on customers much as online merchants are able to do. The 4,000-euro ($5,072) device has spurred shops to adjust window displays, store layouts and promotions to keep consumers walking in the door and spending.

‘It’s spooky,’ said Luca Solca, head of luxury goods research at Exane BNP Paribas in London. ‘You wouldn’t expect a mannequin to be observing you.'”