2015 will see an avalanche of virtual reality devices appear in the mass market, with the likes of Sony, Google, Facebook and Microsoft targeting gamers across the globe. The technology may now be an attainable reality, but will it be used for anything beyond video games?

Rather than dramatically breaking into the mainstream, virtual reality has slowly acquiesced into the collective consciousness. The arena of sport, however, provides a unique opportunity for the tech, potentially transforming these perennial pastimes for fans, players and sponsors alike.

As VR becomes more affordable and accessible, people are looking to use it to have experiences they otherwise couldn’t. But the disabled community is already benefitting hugely for the virtual world of Second Life – where an estimated one in five members has a physical or mental handicap.

Virtual reality is set to become a $1 billion (£710 million) industry by the end of 2016, so it’s understandably an appealing platform for marketers. But with a new study suggesting that 34% of Brits don't care about the tech, where should brands invest for the best return?