A domino is a rectangular block of wood, bone, ivory or another material with an arrangement of spots or marks called “pips” on one side and a blank or identically patterned surface on the other. Dominoes are similar to dice in that they are used to play many different games. When you push a domino ever so slightly, it triggers a chain reaction that causes the rest of the dominoes to fall over. This is often referred to as the “domino effect.”
The first domino may not have much force on its own, but once it falls over, it exerts a strong pull on all the other pieces. This is what makes the domino effect so spectacular, and it’s also how a physics professor describes this phenomenon: “When you stand a domino upright, the pieces on its ends store some potential energy, based on their position. But when you tip the domino over, much of that potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, or energy of motion.”
A domino can be a symbol of control. It is also a metaphor for momentum, which can cause a great deal of destruction and change. A domino is also a popular choice for a business’s logo because of the idea of a chain reaction or momentum.
In addition to their game-playing uses, dominoes are widely used as teaching tools for children and students, as well as a way to enhance the appearance of home or office decor. The most common domino sets are made from plastic or other polymer materials, but they can also be constructed from wood, stone (e.g., marble or granite), metals, and even ceramic clay.
For a more sophisticated look, European-style domino sets are traditionally made from bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl) or ivory with contrasting black or white pips. These sets are usually more expensive than those made from polymer materials. Some people enjoy the tactile feel of natural materials, and prefer to purchase domino sets that are made from natural materials, such as wood or stone.
Dominoes can be arranged to create 3-D structures, lines of dominoes, and flat arrangements. A domino master, or a person who builds large domino arrangements, carefully tests all the individual sections of her work before putting them together. She will then video tape her creations in slow motion so that she can see the entire sequence at once, and make precise corrections if something is off.
Domino’s has embraced technology and new ways to allow customers to order pizza, such as using an app or texting an emoji. This is one of the company’s core values, and it reflects their belief that their customer service is as important as their food. This line of communication also extends to their employees, as it’s part of the company culture to listen to employee complaints and address them directly. This is why when the Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces survey announced that Domino’s was the best place to work, it wasn’t a surprise that CEO David Brandon and his team put their value into practice.