Domino is a small, rectangular block of wood or other rigid material that can be used as a gaming object. It can be played by one or more players. The game consists of drawing domino tiles from a bag, and then placing them on the table in an order that determines the player’s starting position. Each tile has a number of dots called “pips” on each end, and each domino can be connected to adjacent ones in a variety of ways. Dominoes may be arranged in flat rows, or they can be stacked to form 3-D structures like towers and pyramids. The most common type of domino set has 28 pieces, each with a different combination of pips. Larger sets can be made by adding more tiles with greater numbers of pips to the original set, but these are not normally used.
The term domino is most often used to refer to the entire set of tiles, but it can also be used to describe a single piece. Dominoes are often referred to by other names, such as bones, pieces, men, cards, or stones. Some people use dominoes to create artwork, with straight lines and curved lines being popular designs. Others make grids that can form pictures when they fall, stacked walls, or 3D structures.
When a domino is set upright, it has potential energy based on its position, but when it falls, much of this energy is converted to kinetic energy as the next domino topples on to it. This chain reaction is very similar to a nerve impulse travelling down an axon, PhysOrg reports.
The history of domino is a bit murky, but the first modern version probably emerged in France around 1750. Earlier, the word had an even more obscure meaning, denoting a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask at carnival season or a masquerade.
In the beginning, domino was a business venture run by Tom Monaghan and his brother James. They had just started to expand their chain of pizza restaurants beyond New York. Monaghan needed a name for his business, and when he heard the term Domino’s from an employee, he decided to go with it.
Domino’s has been a company that pays close attention to its customers. When David Brandon became CEO, he focused on making changes to the workplace by listening to employees. He relaxed the dress code, began new leadership training programs, and made a point of talking to workers directly to find out what was working—and not—for them.
The company has also invested in developing its delivery system. One reason is to keep up with the competition, but it’s clear that Domino’s also wants its customers to feel like they are valued. To that end, the company is experimenting with delivery by drone and robot, as well as a new custom-built pizza truck.