Domino is a word that can be applied both literally (a series of actual collisions) and metaphorically (causal linkages within systems such as global finance or politics). It also refers to the act of tumbling a domino, and it’s a name that has become synonymous with pizza.
The earliest known domino games were played with wooden blocks, but modern sets are generally made of clay or plastic. They are normally twice as long as they are wide, with a line in the middle to divide them visually into two squares, each marked with an arrangement of spots or pips similar to those used on dice. The squares on a domino are often called its “ends,” and the number of pips on each end is referred to as its value. The number of pips on each end can range from six to none or blank. Each end has a different value, and the total value of a set of dominoes is given by adding up the values of all the ends of the tiles.
Like playing cards, each domino has an identity-bearing face and a blank or identically patterned reverse side. A domino’s identifying marks, or “pips,” are usually colored rectangular dots or squares in the most common variant, although some have a simple pattern or are completely blank. The pips are arranged in such a way that all tiles have one or more pips on both of their ends, enabling them to be connected together in a chain to form a shape. The resulting chain of dominoes is called a “stack.”
A stack can be built up by placing a domino edge to edge against another, either adjacently or at an angle. If the stack reaches a certain height, it may be called a domino tower. Dominoes can also be placed vertically, with the stack resting on its flat edge, to create an L-shaped structure.
Most domino play is a form of layout games, in which players place the pieces in position to block opponents’ play or to make chains that can score points. Some dominoes are also designed to teach children number recognition and counting skills.
Dominos is making its brand more accessible to customers by integrating its ordering platform with Apple CarPlay, allowing people to order pizza from their cars. The move aims to capitalize on the growing trend of connected cars and boost customer satisfaction by making it easier to use the service.
Hevesh, a domino artist who posts videos of her amazing creations on YouTube, has worked on many large-scale projects for movies and TV shows and even for a record album launch by Katy Perry. Her largest domino structures can take several nail-biting minutes to fall, but once they do, they’re breathtakingly beautiful. Hevesh says that when a domino is carefully placed, it’s as though there’s a potential energy inside that must be released to create the stunning effect. Hevesh’s nudge is just enough to release that energy and cause the dominoes to cascade down.