A domino is a small rectangular block, thumb-sized, with the face divided into two parts, each either blank or marked by one to six pips or dots: 28 such blocks form a complete set. Dominoes or dominoes may also refer to any of several games played with such blocks by matching the ends of pieces and laying them down in lines and angular patterns.
Creating the ultimate domino setup can be a fun challenge, and many people find it therapeutic as well. You can design a straight or curved line, grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. It’s important to consider how the dominoes will fall before you begin, as the way in which you arrange them will have a significant impact on the outcome of your project.
The art of domino layouts draws inspiration from other types of design, especially architecture and engineering. As such, Hevesh describes her process as “like engineering an assembly line.” She starts with the theme of her project in mind, then brainstorms images and words to help her create a blueprint. Once she has a clear idea of what she wants to build, she can start arranging the dominoes and planning how they will fall.
When she’s satisfied with her plan, Hevesh tests out the resulting sequence of events by flicking the first domino and watching it cascade downward. This process allows her to identify any problems and make adjustments before implementing the final product. The test also reveals how much force is needed to push the dominoes into place, which will be helpful when designing the final product.
Dominos have a long history of popularity and use, with the first known reference in the English language being found in 1684. The game’s popularity has continued to increase as technology has allowed for improved printing methods and faster computers. Today, dominoes are available in a variety of styles and materials, with the most popular being wood and plastic.
When a person flicks the first domino and it falls, the energy from its potential toppling is transmitted to the next domino, which receives a push and then transmits that energy to the next one, and so on. The process continues until the last domino falls. This simple model is often used to explain how nerve impulses travel along axons in the brain.
In writing, the domino effect helps readers understand how a character’s actions lead to a conclusion. For example, if the character takes an action that runs counter to social norms, such as shooting a stranger or having an affair, it’s essential for the writer to provide logic to make it believable.
When playing a domino game, the player with the highest double makes the first play. If no player has a high double, the rules of the specific game may require that the player draw new hands until someone is holding a domino with which to make a play.