Domino (dom*i*no):
a flat, thumbsized rectangular block either blank or marked with from one to six pips or dots: 28 such dominoes form a complete set. Dominoes are used in a variety of games involving matching the ends of pieces and laying them down in lines or angular patterns.
A domino effect occurs when one small event, often unintentional, causes a chain reaction of more significant—and sometimes catastrophic—consequences. The term derives from the fact that when a domino is tipped over, it can cause the next domino in line to tip over as well, and so on until all of the dominoes have fallen. This is the origin of the popular game of dominoes, in which players try to build chains of dominoes by laying down tiles edge-to-edge on a table until they reach some desired end point, such as a certain pip count.
There are many variations of domino games, ranging from simple blocking and scoring games to elaborate positional games. The simplest of these, known as the Draw game, requires each player to place a tile on the table so that it has a matching end with another domino on the right or left side of the table (or both). Players alternate turns in placing tiles until the entire Domino chain is filled, with the winner determining their score by the total remaining pip count of his or her hand.
In more complex positional games, the first tile placed must be a double and each subsequent tile played must be adjacent to (touching fully on both sides) a double. As the dominoes pile up, they can take on a snake-like appearance, with the chains developing in all directions depending on the rules and whims of the players.
The dominoes can also be arranged in two-dimensional shapes, such as squares and rectangles, or stacked up into 3D structures like towers and pyramids. This art is popular with children and adults alike, as it allows for creative expression in the way the dominoes are positioned and stacked.
Hevesh started creating domino arrangements when she was 10, and her YouTube channel, Hevesh5, now has more than 2 million subscribers. She has worked on projects involving thousands of dominoes that take several nail-biting minutes to fall, and has even helped create setups for movies and events.
Domino’s is focusing on technology as a key to its future, and a large part of the company’s workforce works in software analytics. They are experimenting with new ways for customers to order, including by text and voice.
While this may seem counterintuitive for a company that depends on delivery drivers, Doyle says it’s necessary to keep up with customer demand and provide a competitive advantage in the market. Doyle also believes that a key component of the Domino’s brand is its sense of fun and humor, and this is being maintained with initiatives such as the Domino’s Innovation Garage.