Domino is a series of falling or laying pieces (tiles) that build upon each other to create an ever-growing chain. Each domino has a number of dots or spots on it and each spot represents a potential value for the next tile to be laid. A player cannot proceed with his turn unless he has a domino to lay that can match the number on one of the ends of the chain (or, in the case of a double-six or double-seven, matching the other end). If he cannot, he “knocks” and play passes to the opponent. In most games, players take turns placing a domino edge-to-edge against another so that the open ends of the two tiles either match each other or form some specified total.
As each new domino falls, it releases the energy stored in the previous ones. This energy can then be used to push on the next domino, and so on. This process is called the Domino Effect and is often seen in business and everyday life.
Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of The Domino Principle, explains the Domino Effect as follows: “As each tiny domino falls, it shifts you from one behavior to another, creating a cascade of new beliefs about yourself and your world.” In her example, once she began making her bed each morning, it was easy for her to continue that habit and soon, other behaviors followed, like cleaning the kitchen or exercising.
The name Domino is actually the English translation of an Italian word, but it’s been around a long time. It originally denoted a hooded cloak worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade, and in French it also meant a cape worn by a priest over his surplice. The word has since evolved to mean both a type of garment and the game of domino.
Domino has become a major brand name, primarily due to its pizza delivery service, but it has also been adopted in other industries to describe a process or system of change. It’s a great name for a business, because it reflects the idea that one small action can lead to big changes.
Domino Data Lab is an end to end data science platform with the ability to connect to version control systems like Bitbucket, spin up interactive workspaces of different sizes to explore and run jobs and even deploy models into production. It is an ideal choice for teams working collaboratively to design, prototype and scale data science projects. Domino is available as a cloud or on-premises solution. Check out Domino’s website to learn more.