Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jul 6, 2020
Date Accepted: Sep 30, 2020
Accuracy of Mobile-Device-Compatible Three-dimensional Face Scanners for Facial Digitization: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Facial digitization using mobile-device-compatible three-dimensional (3D) sensor cameras has been attracting a lot of interest in recent years.
Objective:
This article aimed to review the accuracy of mobile-device-compatible face scanners in facial digitization in comparison to professional 3D face scanning systems.
Methods:
Individual search strategies were employed in electronic literature databases to search articles published until May 27, 2020. Peer-reviewed journal articles evaluating the accuracy of 3D face models generated by mobile-device-compatible face scanners were included.
Results:
By automatic database searching, 3,942 articles were identified, of which 11 articles were considered eligible for narrative review, with six studies further subjected to meta-analysis. Overall, the accuracy of the face models obtained using mobile-device-compatible face scanners was significantly lower than that of the face models obtained using professional 3D face scanners (standardized mean difference, SMD = 3.96 mm; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 2.81–5.10 mm; z = 6.78; P < .0001). The difference between the two face scanning systems when the face scans were performed on inanimate facial objects was significantly higher (SMD = 10.53 mm, 95% CI = 6.29–14.77 mm) than that when the face scans were performed on living facial subjects (SMD = 2.58 mm, 95% CI = 1.70–3.47 mm, P < .001, df = 12.94).
Conclusions:
Overall, the mobile-device-compatible face scanners were not comparable to professional scanning systems in 3D face acquisition, but the deviations were within the clinically acceptable range of <1.5 mm. Significant differences between the 3D face scans performed on inanimate facial objects and living facial subjects were found; thus, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results from studies conducted on inanimate objects.
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