Domino, also known as bones, cards, men, or pieces, are small rectangular blocks used to play games of chance or skill. They are usually twice as long as they are wide, making them easy to re-stack after use. Each domino has an identity-bearing side and a blank or identically patterned side. The identifying side is marked with an arrangement of spots, similar to the numbering scheme on a die, while the blank side has no markings at all. Dominoes may be made of many materials, but most are crafted from bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl), ivory or dark hardwood such as ebony. The pips on a domino are either black or white and are inlaid or painted.
A domino is an interesting game because the outcome is often completely random. There is a high probability that the first domino will fall, but after that, the outcome can take any number of forms. Some of these forms include the formation of an entire chain, which results in the falling of additional tiles. The other common form is a single domino, which falls over after being struck or otherwise disturbed.
The word domino derives from the Latin domini, meaning “heavy.” A large number of dominoes can be arranged in a row, and if one is struck, it will cause the rest to topple over, creating a chain reaction. It’s this concept that has led to a variety of domino games, and it has inspired some very creative setups.
Lily Hevesh, a professional domino artist who has amassed more than 2 million YouTube subscribers, sets up incredibly intricate domino installations that are filmed in slow motion. She tests each section of her setups to ensure they work, and then builds them up gradually. The biggest 3-D sections go up first, followed by flat arrangements. Hevesh uses a computer program to help her create the layouts, and she nudges each domino gently with her fingers to get it to tip over.
For Hevesh, dominoes are a way to express creativity and make the world around her more beautiful. She finds that when she is feeling down, dominoes provide a sense of purpose and motivation. She says she’s able to connect with others through her art, and that she can “feel the love and support from them” when she plays her videos.
In business, domino can refer to a project that is difficult or takes a significant amount of time and effort to complete but will have positive ripple effects. These are often referred to as “good” dominoes because they are essential to achieving a larger goal. For example, outlining finances or creating a financial plan are good dominoes that can help you achieve your financial goals.
Domino’s CEO knows that if he wants his company to be successful in the long run, he needs to focus on what matters most to his customers. That includes addressing the domino effect of third-party delivery services such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, which have gained rapid market share in the food delivery space and posed a threat to Domino’s.