Lesson 2:
Designing Your Tech Breaks

Hyperrealistic body painting by Hikaru Cho. Hikaru Cho was born in Tokyo in 1993. In 2012 she has been accepted in the prestigious Musashino Art University, Communication design department. She started the unusual art form of body painting as a side activity, while working also on character design as well as on smartphones apps design. https://web.archive.org/web/20140313052053/http://koikoikoi.com/2014/02/hyperrealistic-body-painting-by-hikaru-cho and her Insta is https://www.instagram.com/hikaru_cho/

Technology Transformation: Reclaiming Control Through Digital Separation

Hikaru Cho's hyperrealistic body paintings directly confront our technological integration by transforming human skin into mechanical interfaces, compelling us to examine how devices have become extensions of our physical selves. This artistic representation serves as a critical entry point for understanding the power of intentional technology separation.

1. Contrast between flesh and technology: The jarring juxtaposition of organic skin against mechanical components mirrors the cognitive dissonance we experience during tech breaks, helping students recognize the distinction between their digital and physical identities.

2. Functional positioning: Cho strategically places technological elements where they would logically "operate" human functions, inviting critical analysis of which daily activities have become device-dependent versus those that remain authentically human.

3. Hyperrealistic detail: The meticulous rendering of technological components creates an uncanny valley effect, provoking emotional responses that parallel the initial discomfort many experience when disconnecting from devices.

Born in 1993, Cho gained international recognition through these provocative works that challenge conventional boundaries between humanity and technology, establishing her as a significant voice in contemporary Japanese art that examines digital dependency.

These visual metaphors directly connect to students' lived experiences by:

• Revealing how technology has become invisibly integrated into daily routines

• Highlighting the possibility of "opening compartments" to access control mechanisms

• Demonstrating that technological interfaces can be intentionally engaged or disengaged

As we develop personalized tech break strategies today, Cho's artwork reminds us that while technology might appear fused to our identities, we retain the capacity to distinguish ourselves from our devices and reclaim agency through deliberate separation.