Domino (singular: dominoes) is a game played with small rectangular wooden or plastic blocks, usually 28 in number, which are arranged in a row on a flat surface. Each domino has a face, marked with an arrangement of spots resembling those on dice, and a back. The blank or patterned faces of the dominoes are called the “field,” while the dots on the exposed ends are called the “pips.” Dominos can be made in almost any color, though white dominoes with black pips and vice versa are most common. A domino is typically molded or drilled with the pips, then painted.
Dominoes are sometimes used to create artistic designs, such as straight or curved lines that can form shapes, grids that make pictures, and 3D structures like towers or pyramids. Artists can also use a variety of materials, such as colored paint or markers, to add design elements. Domino art is often displayed on the walls of homes or offices, or in other public spaces.
Lily Hevesh, a British artist, is one of the most well known practitioners of this art. She has created colorful spirals, portraits, and fractals using dominoes. Her work is exhibited in museums and private collections. In addition to creating art, she also conducts workshops and lectures on domino art.
The most basic western domino games require a set of 28 double-six dominoes, which are shuffled and placed on the table to form what is called the stock or boneyard. The players then draw a random number of pieces for the lead, and the first player to play a piece makes his or her move. Each domino must be placed edge to edge with another so that the exposed ends match (one’s touching one’s, two’s touching two’s, etc.). The players then count the total of all the dots on the exposed ends of their dominoes and win the hand if the count is lower than their opponents’ unplayed dominoes.
Technology is a large part of Domino’s business, and the company is constantly working on new ways for customers to order pizza. For example, this week, it announced a partnership with Apple CarPlay that will allow customers to place orders from their connected cars. The company has also experimented with drones for delivery, as well as a pizza-making robot named Pepperoni. The company focuses on these initiatives not just for the money they can generate, but to modernize their brand and create a sense of innovation and fun that their competitors lack.