Dominoes are small rectangular blocks used for playing games. Each domino has a number of pips (spots) on one end. Depending on the game, the number of pips on the ends of the dominoes may be added or subtracted to determine scoring or to match with other dominoes. Known by many names including bones, cards, tiles, men, or spinners, they are popular with children and adults. Some people like to line them up in long rows and then knock them over, while others prefer to play games that involve a domino chain.
Domino art can take the form of curved lines, grids that make pictures when they fall, or 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. A skilled domino artist can create a design that is beautiful and impressive.
Most dominoes are made of wood or another rigid material. They are also available in plastic and other non-rigid materials. The earliest dominoes were probably made of ebony black and ivory, and the word domino is believed to have derived from the French for cape worn by a priest over his surplice.
A dominoes set consists of 28 unique pieces, each having two matching ends with numbers from zero to six. The number of pips on the end of a domino makes it part of one suit or the other. A double has a special feature that distinguishes it from other types of dominoes – both of its ends can be played. In some games, the number of pips on the exposed ends of the first double can be added or subtracted from the total score to indicate who is ahead.
The most common games of domino require players to place a tile on the table, positioning it so that the two matching ends touch. The resulting chain, or snake-line, grows in length as more tiles are placed on the top of the first ones. The players continue to place tiles until a player cannot play any more, or until the other players have “gone out.”
As the leader of Domino’s, David Brandon knew that in order to be successful in today’s fast-paced world, the company needed to adapt its business model to meet customer demands. In the early 1990s, he took steps to do just that.
In addition to hiring employees with new skills, he also implemented technology that enabled Domino’s to provide customers with more ways of ordering their pizzas, such as by using a smartphone app or texting an emoji. He also invested in training programs and engaged with workers to find out what they wanted to see happen at the company.
While many Domino’s customers loved the company’s new approach, some were apprehensive and worried that it would ruin the tradition of the franchise. Fortunately, the strategy paid off and the company’s revenue grew exponentially. It is now the second-largest pizza chain in the United States and operates in dozens of countries. It also employs more than a million workers worldwide.