Domino is a game that involves placing domino tiles on the table, arranging them in long lines and then knocking them over. Often, the first domino to fall triggers a series of events that results in much greater–and sometimes catastrophic–consequences. Likewise, in business, the term “domino effect” refers to an event that causes another, similar event and thus creates a chain reaction that has significant consequences for other people or businesses.
Domino’s was founded by a young Italian immigrant named Tom Monaghan in the mid-1960s in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He wanted to make a common food item in a way that was attractive, tasteful and made use of fine materials and skilled craftsmanship. The result was a line of dominoes that were small enough to be manageable in a workshop but detailed enough to command respect for the craftsman.
When played correctly, the dominoes can be arranged to form very complicated patterns. Using the standard double-twelve or double-nine set of 91 pieces, four players would each pick 12 dominoes at the start of play and then place them on the table in such a way that each adjacent domino either had a number showing on its end or was positioned to form a specified total. Each player would then try to complete the pattern in order, with the final player in each round claiming the remaining tiles.
In addition to traditional positional games, a number of matching and scoring games are played with dominoes. These often involve a particular skill, such as memory or concentration. Alternatively, players can take turns attempting to block the other players by playing a tile that cannot be used by their opponents. This is often referred to as a “snakeline” because the domino chains tend to develop in snake-like forms.
Many people enjoy creating domino art, which can be simple or elaborate. Some examples include straight lines that can be curved, grids that form pictures when they fall and 3D structures like towers or pyramids. To create an interesting domino art design, it is helpful to consider the theme or purpose of the work and brainstorm images or words that might be appropriate. Next, the artist can plan the layout.
One of the key aspects of successful planning is to consider the domino effect, which describes an event that causes a series of other events in which each successive event has a larger impact than the previous one. This is why it is important to rank tasks so that the most important ones can be completed first. It is also a good idea to keep track of progress and make any necessary changes in plans as the project proceeds.
When the first domino falls, it transfers a certain amount of energy to the next domino, which then provides the push needed to cause it to fall as well. The process continues until the last domino has fallen. This is similar to the way a nerve cell in the body works, converting potential energy into kinetic energy, which is then transmitted from cell to cell until the entire system has converted to motion.