Dominoes and the Domino Effect

The domino effect is an idea that says that a small change in one place can have ripple effects on other places. It is a theory used in science, politics, and business. For example, if a company has a poor customer service reputation, it can affect the whole business. The company may need to implement new policies or hire staff to address the problem. Domino’s is an American pizza chain that has had its share of challenges in recent years. However, it has stayed true to its core values, especially its commitment to listen to customers. This has helped the company stay on track and recover from difficult times.

A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or plastic, marked on one side with an arrangement of dots that resemble those on a die. It has a line in the middle to divide it visually into two squares, each with an identity-bearing face and a blank or identically patterned opposite face. Dominoes are typically twice as long as they are wide and can be stacked on top of each other. The number of pips on each end of a domino indicates its value, with an end bearing more pips being “heavier” than a less-valuable end with fewer pips.

The earliest domino sets were made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory or dark hardwoods such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on each face. More recently, domino sets have been manufactured from natural materials including stone (such as marble or granite), soapstone, ceramic clay and frosted glass. These sets have a more distinctive appearance and feel, but can be much more expensive than those made of polymer.

Most domino sets contain 28 pieces that represent the results of two six-sided dice (2d6), with each domino representing a specific combination of spots. However, there are many variations on this basic theme: additional pips can be added to the ends of dominoes; dominoes with identical pips can be combined in different ways to form chains; and, for more advanced play, sets may have more than 28 tiles.

Hevesh creates intricate domino artwork for films, TV shows and events. Her work is awe-inspiring. Her largest displays consist of thousands of dominoes that take several nail-biting minutes to fall. In order to make sure her creations work as intended, Hevesh tests each section of an installation before putting them all together. She also records videos of her work in slow motion, which helps her fine-tune the sequences of movement and the timing of each individual domino.

When Hevesh finally pushes the first domino past its tipping point, a pulse of energy travels down the line as quickly and predictably as a nerve impulse traveling down an axon. Each domino has the potential to cause a reaction in its own right, and a chain reaction can continue infinitely. The only limit to the complexity of a domino display is how much time and effort you are willing to put into it.