Sitting at your desk and dreaming of a holiday to escape your hard day? In an attempt to combat workplace stress, scientists in the US have developed a novel form of escapism – virtual holidays.

Instead of packing a suitcase, digging out your passport and maxing out your credit card, you can simply stay at your desk, pop on a specially designed visor and use a joystick to move through your chosen city or landscape, while a massage chair, a scent machine and a soundtrack add flavour to the “trip”. The apparent benefit is that you can escape immediately.

The downside? You’re still at work.