Have you ever lined up dominoes to make an interesting shape, or played one of the many games that can be made with them? Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day is about an interesting use for these little square pieces – they can be used to create amazing works of art!
Domino (Dominoes or Dominions) is a game of chance and skill. It involves a series of matching and linking the numbers on the dominoes, to form chains in which each domino has to end up at the base of another one. The value of each domino is determined by its position in the chain, and can vary depending on the particular rules of the game being played.
Often the game is played with two or more people, each taking turns playing dominoes. Each player draws seven dominoes for his hand, and then begins play by putting down a domino from his hand that has a number that matches the total of a domino already laid down. The player continues to put down additional dominoes until he has completed a row of dominoes that add up to the desired total. If a domino cannot be found, it may be left face down in the domino “boneyard” until the next turn.
The term domino is also used for any small oblong piece of wood or plastic bearing an arrangement of spots, called pips, on one side, and blank or identically patterned on the other. These pips are usually arranged in a pattern similar to those on the faces of dice, although some large domino sets use more readable Arabic numerals instead. The earliest mention of the word in English is around 1750; it may have been derived from French, meaning hood worn with a mask during carnival season or at masquerades.
In modern times, the most famous Domino’s is a global pizza chain that has been wildly successful. Its success stems in part from its focus on the customer, and the ability to respond to customers’ wants and needs quickly. This is especially important in a time when dine-in restaurants have struggled to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic, and consumers are now opting for takeout and delivery instead of going out to eat.
Since 2010, when CEO James Doyle took over, Domino’s has been on a remarkable growth streak that has taken the company from the butt of late-night jokes to a global powerhouse with more than 12,500 locations in 80 countries and an astonishingly strong stock price. In fact, its share has increased 14-fold since it floated on the stock market in 1999. Doyle credits the turnaround to a strategy that has focused on enhancing the pizza experience, including speedy delivery and operational transparency. Domino’s has also been innovative in how it uses technology to improve the customer experience and drive its business. For example, its website now allows customers to order online or via twitter or texting an emoji, and customers can track the progress of their delivery through their mobile devices.