## 5 Addressing the Research Questions
### RQ1: What Are the Primary Fields of Application Where VR, AI, and IoT Are Used in Combination?
#### 5.3.5 Tools and Platforms
Real-time data processing is even more demanding, especially with multiple sensors, requiring substantial resources. In the IoT world data is not simply stored but also constantly transferred between things, so network traffic is another crucial factor. The choice between edge and cloud computing affects computational overhead. Whileedge computing can reduce latency by processing data closer to the source, it might also strain the resources of edge devices. On the other hand, cloud computing can handle larger processing loads but may introduce latency due to network delays. These limitations impact the scalability of such systems, particularly in resource-constrained environments that rely on crowd intelligence and user-generated content. Finally, user experience challenges include balancing immersion with usability in VR environments and addressing latency issues in real-time data processing. Immersive VR experiences can overwhelm users, reducing overall usability, while latency disrupts real-time interactions. Ref. [66] stated that latency issues in virtual shopping systems could negatively impact user engagement, underscoring the need for optimized network infrastructure and data processing algorithms. Moreover, UI interfaces are often overlooked, yet they play a crucial role in the user experience. Poorly designed interfaces can hinder interaction and navigation within VR environments while making the user constantly crave the real-life one. Additionally, the textures and shading of VR worlds are frequently cited as immersion breakers, detracting from the overall experience. Enhancing these graphical elements is essential to maintaining a seamless and engaging virtual experience. Addressing these user experience challenges requires a holistic approach, involving the optimization of network infrastructure, improvements in UI design, and integration of the advanced graphical rendering techniques included even in commonly used tools such as Unity and Unreal Engine. These efforts are vital in creating VR environments that are not only immersive but also user-friendly and responsive. The challenges and limitations in integrating VR, AI, and IoT are complex and differ depending on the application domain. Data collection issues, interoperability barriers, user experience concerns, computational demands, ethical considerations, and sector-specific challenges must be addressed to achieve seamless integration. Overcoming these obstacles requires a collaborative effort from researchers, developers, and policymakers to establish standardized protocols, improve sensor technology, enhance user interfaces, and ensure data privacy and security. Future research should focus on developing scalable, user-centric solutions that address these challenges while maximizing the potential benefits of VR, AI, and IoT integration. RQ5: Are There Any Emerging Frameworks or Models of the Seamless Combination of the Three Technologies, for Specific Application Domains? The previous sections have laid the groundwork to address the final research question. As seen in Table 1 and the literature review, there are examples of emerging frameworks in multiple fields which are ready to be implemented in real-life cases or that have already underwent such testing. The main application fields are healthcare, accessibility & assistive technologies, industry, retail, education, art & culture, entertainment, metaverse, mobility & smart transportation, safety & emergency services, sensing & data collection as well as smart cities & infrastructure. However, while there are promising examples, as highlighted by the quantitative research conducted, the number of existing frameworks and applications that effectively use each technology of the synergistic combination is rather limited. This, coupled with the discussed challenges and limitations, emphasizes the need for further research and development to create revolutionary systems that fully harness the potential of these converging technologies.