Domino is a name used to describe any number of small rectangular wooden or plastic blocks that are marked on one face with an arrangement of spots, or pips, similar to those on dice. They are usually twice as long as they are wide, and their pips vary in value from six to none or blank. Dominoes are used to play a variety of games, both casual and strategic.
The most popular domino game is Draw and Place. In this game, players draw from a spare pile and lay down a domino on the table. Then, the player to their left must lay a domino of a suit matching that of the lead tile. The result is a line of dominoes that develops into a snake-like shape depending on the whims of the players and the limitations of the playing surface. A double is always played cross-ways over a matching end of another domino and must touch it fully. Consequently, this type of domino is sometimes called a spinner.
Once all the tiles have been laid, the winner of the hand or game is determined by counting the total number of pips on the opponent’s remaining dominoes. If the count is a multiple of five, the winner receives a point for each of these multiples.
If the pips on the winning player’s remaining dominoes are not a multiple of 5, there is no additional scoring. However, some players agree to employ a scoring method in which for every multiple of five on the opponents’ remaining dominoes, there is an additional score of one point.
Domino’s has several innovative ordering technologies, known as AnyWare, which allow customers to order from a variety of different devices including iPad, iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets. In addition, Domino’s offers a voice-ordering technology that allows customers to speak their orders to the Domino’s Pizza app on their smartphone or Amazon Alexa device.
A domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when one event triggers a series of other events, each of which builds upon the previous in a predictable way. The impact can be positive or negative, and can affect a person, organization or industry. The term is also used to refer to a series of effects that may occur due to the failure of a system or project.
HCL, the company that acquired IBM’s Domino business in 2010, is focusing on maintaining compatibility for the existing user base as they work to deliver on the longer-term strategic initiatives. As a result, many of the Domino developers and partners are working in a “compatibility mode.” This will probably continue for some time, and will likely require an investment in time to address a backlog of issues that have been building for years.