A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block, the face of which is blank or marked with dots like those on dice. When a domino is tipped over, it triggers the fall of all other dominoes it touches. This is why many children use dominoes as toys that they can stack on end in long lines and then topple over, one after the other. The physics of this process is fascinating and has led to the coinage of the term “domino effect,” which describes a chain reaction that starts with a seemingly insignificant event but leads to much bigger (and sometimes catastrophic) consequences.
Dominoes can be used to play a variety of games, including blocking and scoring. They can also be arranged in 3-D structures such as towers and pyramids. Some even serve as art. The best domino artists are able to plan out their designs in advance and then calculate how many tiles they will need. They are able to make straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and 3D structures such as towers and pyramids.
As a child, Lily Hevesh enjoyed playing with her grandparents’ classic 28-piece set of dominoes. As she grew up, her interest in dominoes continued to grow. Now, she is a professional domino artist who creates amazing setups for movies, TV shows, and events. Hevesh has more than 2 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, where she shares videos of her creations.
To create a domino chain, a player places a domino on the table so that its two matching ends touch. The player must then place a tile adjacent to that doublet. The shape of the chain then begins to develop, with each tile added to the end of the chain. The chain can continue in this fashion until all the dominoes have been played.
The earliest sense of the word domino was in reference to a hooded cloak worn with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. It is possible that this sense was inspired by the fact that domino pieces were once made with ebony blacks and ivory faces, which reminded people of a priest’s hooded cape over his white surplice.
In modern times, the word domino has become most well-known as a game. The first use of the word in this sense was in 1812. A contemporary newspaper article noted that “Domino is a game of skill and imagination. It requires a great deal of patience and concentration.”
While Domino’s has changed the name of its pizza, the company has stayed true to one of its core values: Listening to Our Customers. This value has been a major factor in the company’s success, and it applies to both the customer service department and the Domino’s app team.
As a Domino’s employee, I know that listening to our customers is important for us to be able to deliver the kind of experience they deserve. As we work to improve our products, I hope that the rest of the company will follow suit, and continue to put our customers at the forefront of everything they do.