Domino is a game in which players score points by laying tiles end to end, with matching ends touching (one’s touch one’s, two’s touch two’s, etc.). Each exposed end is worth a multiple of five, and as the chain grows it develops a snake-line shape. If a player cannot lay any more tiles, he or she “chips out” and play passes to his or her partner.
As a domino set is built, it can become enormous. The largest sets have hundreds, if not thousands, of dominoes. At domino shows, builders compete to construct the most elaborate domino effect or reaction before a live audience of fans.
In the business world, a Domino effect is a series of events that have an outsized influence on subsequent events. For example, the launch of a new product might generate positive publicity for an old company, leading to a surge in business. This increase in sales might then lead to a broader campaign by the older company, which may result in even greater sales. The original company might also decide to expand its business into other products and services, further enhancing its brand image.
The word Domino is derived from the Latin dominica, meaning “little king.” This is in reference to the power that a small piece of a larger structure can have when it is arranged properly. The first known use of the term was in 1750, although it earlier denoted a hooded cloak that a priest would wear over his surplice.
When creating a mind-blowing domino arrangement, Hevesh uses a version of the engineering design process. She begins by considering the overall theme of the installation and brainstorming images that might go along with it. She then creates test versions of each section and films them in slow motion to make sure they work correctly. Once the individual sections are ready, she puts them together in a sequence that makes sense. The biggest 3-D sections are added first, followed by flat arrangements and finally lines connecting all of the different sections.
The most basic domino variant involves just two players using a double-six set. These 28 tiles are shuffled to form the stock, or boneyard, and each player draws seven from it. The winner is the player whose remaining tiles have the lowest combined value of all their spots.
In an effort to keep Domino’s profitability on track during the pandemic, Patrick Doyle stepped out and faced public criticism. This was a bold move, but it seemed to have worked. As a result, the company’s profits increased. However, these gains were offset by the higher cost of ingredients, especially cheese, which is a major component in Domino’s pizza recipes. Running costs also went up as the demand for Domino’s climbed. Still, the company is largely optimistic about its future and has plans to open 25,000 locations globally by 2025.