Domino is a game in which players set up a series of rectangular dominoes so that one end touches another, triggering a chain reaction. The end that touches first causes a domino to fall over, a chain reaction that continues until the last domino has been pushed over. The most common games involve scoring points by blocking opponents or completing a path. In addition, many other variants use dominoes, including solitaire and trick-taking games.
The word domino derives from the Latin phrase, Domino et iugo. The earliest known mention of the word is in a 1750 dictionary. The word appeared in English shortly after that and was later adapted to refer to a particular type of playing piece. The name has also been used for a variety of architectural structures and devices, including a cloak worn by a priest over his surplice and a system of numbered signs or marks that was once popular in some parts of the world.
As a mercenary, Domino worked for Milo Thurman before becoming the bodyguard of the time-traveling mutant Cable. She later joined X-Corporation and its Hong Kong branch, where she fought against John Sublime’s Third Species mutant organ harvesting movement.
In the comics, Domino has a special power that she can activate subconsciously. This psionic aura alters probabilities, granting her good luck while hindering her enemies. It can range from having an enemy’s equipment malfunction to enabling her to shut down a machine with just the right button.
Invented by an engineer, the original dominoes were made from wood or bone with a symmetrical face and a line or ridge that separates it into two squares. They were often painted or decorated with a pattern that resembled the dots on a die. Later, dominoes became available in metal and ivory with contrasting black or white pips (inlaid or painted).
Today’s domino sets are typically plastic, although some have wood or ceramic faces. Most sets have a maximum number of pips on each end, usually 12, but larger sets have more readable Arabic numerals. Some sets have additional pips for a total of 24 or 36 tiles.
In addition to being used in traditional games, dominoes are often found in decorative or artistic settings. For example, dominoes may be arranged to create patterns that resemble constellations or animals, and people sometimes set up them in rows to form an artificial forest or waterfall.
The ability to set up and then break down a domino chain reaction makes the pieces a useful tool for teaching children counting. They can also be used to demonstrate the physics of gravity and momentum.
As a designer, Hevesh tests each section of her displays to ensure they will work correctly. She often films the test sequences in slow motion, allowing her to make precise adjustments. Hevesh also focuses on making sure the biggest 3-D sections go up first, followed by the flat arrangements, then the lines that connect them together.