What is Domino?
Domino is the term for a flat, thumb-sized rectangular piece of wood or other material bearing from one to six pips or dots. The pips are often inlaid or painted to match the domino’s background color. The domino is used to play a variety of games, including blocking, scoring, and placing pieces in angular patterns. In addition, dominoes are used as learning tools for number recognition and math skills. The most common domino game is a block-and-draw game for two players, played with a double-six set. The 28 tiles are shuffled face down and form the stock, or boneyard, and each player draws seven from the stock at random. The first player plays the highest domino in his or her hand, generally the tile with the most pips. The second player then draws a domino from the boneyard that matches the value of the previous domino played and adds to his or her score. As the domino is flipped over, it sets off a chain reaction that can continue in an endless loop. Unlike other physics phenomena that have a wavelike pattern, the domino effect is all-or-nothing, and the pulse travels at a constant speed without losing energy along its length. This behavior is analogous to the way a nerve impulse moves down a cell’s axon, independent of the size of the triggering signal and occurring in one direction only. Originally, the word domino denoted a long hooded cape worn together with a mask at carnival season or at a masquerade. The term was later applied to the game of dominoes, which are a type of counting card, and then to a long, hooded cloak used as an alternative to a priest’s surplice during religious services. Dominoes were once made with contrasting black and ivory pieces, reflecting this earlier sense of the word. In the early 1970s, Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan decided to change the company’s marketing strategy and focus on creating a fast delivery service. He developed a system where drivers would be dispatched to deliver pizzas to customers’ doors within 30 minutes of the customer ordering. To make this work, Monaghan had to develop a fleet of delivery trucks and train drivers on the new service. He also had to convince skeptical investors that the 30-minute guarantee was doable. Domino’s success fueled rapid growth in the company, and by 1986 it had more than 3,000 stores nationwide. Unfortunately, the company began to suffer from an inability to meet demand. This led to a series of accidents caused by drivers racing to meet the 30-minute deadline, and in 1987 Domino’s dropped its promise of fast delivery. Today, Domino’s has over 8,000 stores worldwide and continues to grow rapidly. The company focuses on customer satisfaction and a strong culture of employee development and training. It also invests in research and development to create innovative new products, such as the cheesy crust stuffed with sausage, pepperoni, and mushrooms called the “Domino’s Deep Dish.” Domino’s has also introduced several other pizza styles, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.