Dominoes are small tiles that are normally rectangular in shape with a line down the middle. They feature a set of numbers on either end, ranging from zero to six in the most common variant, and may be labelled as blank, double, or triple. In most domino games, each player takes turns placing a new tile onto the table positioning it so that one or more ends of the existing chain touch it. In this way the chain gradually increases in length, and each time a domino is placed it becomes the starting point for additional chains, which are used to score points in the game.
Dominos are normally stacked on top of each other in long lines, with the apex (or tip) of each domino resting on the apex of the preceding tile. The first domino is then flipped over, which in turn causes the rest of the tiles to fall into place, creating a sequence of connected events known as the “domino effect.” Dominoes can be arranged in a variety of shapes and configurations, including straight or curved lines, and can be stacked to form complex patterns.
Although domino is a popular game, it has also been used to model and demonstrate other types of systems, such as supply chains and networks. For example, Domino’s Pizza remodeled its food delivery system in 2014 to better manage the flow of its products from factory to customer. This involved a shift from a central warehouse distribution to an outpost-based system that allowed local teams to make deliveries more quickly and efficiently. This helped the company to lower its delivery times, improve service, and meet customers’ needs more effectively.
One of the most well-known examples of the domino effect is a simple game called dominoes, which involves a series of actions that have larger and sometimes catastrophic consequences. The word domino itself is derived from the Latin dominus, meaning leader, and it appears to have been used in this sense as early as the 14th century.
Lily Hevesh first started playing with dominoes at the age of 9 when her grandparents gave her a classic 28-pack of the small tiles. She loved the process of arranging the pieces in straight or curved lines and then flicking the first domino over, which caused the rest of the dominoes to fall in sequence. She soon began posting videos of her creations online and has now become a professional domino artist, with a YouTube channel and impressive list of clients.
Traditionally, domino sets are made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory or ebony with contrasting black or white pips. More recently, sets have been made of other natural materials such as stone (e.g., marble, granite or soapstone); other woods (e.g., ash or oak); metals; and even frosted glass. These sets often have a more organic feel and a heavier weight than their polymer counterparts, but can be more expensive.