We’ve all seen those domino constructions where, after tipping the first piece ever-so-slightly, all the rest fall in a cascade of rhythmic motion. This is called the “domino effect,” and it applies to any sequence of events that cascades in this way. Whether you’re a fiction writer or a business leader, there are many ways that you can use this concept to improve your own performance.
Dominoes are cousins of playing cards, and they’ve been around for a long time. They’re popular for many different games, and you can also line them up to create beautiful shapes. Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day explains how these versatile tools work and why they have stood the test of time.
The markings on a domino are called pips and originally represented the results of throwing two six-sided dice. Each half of a domino had the pips from one die and the other side had blanks. Larger domino sets add duplicates and divide the pips into two suits. Identifying the pips on a domino can be difficult, so some large sets feature more readable Arabic numerals.
A Domino Effect
In business, a domino effect refers to the chain reaction that occurs when one event triggers other related events. Those events can be either positive or negative, but the overall result is a shift in a company’s performance. A negative domino effect can have devastating consequences, but a positive domino effect can drive a company to success.
Hevesh, a domino artist who has created amazing domino setups for movies and even the record-setting Guinness Book of World Records, uses an engineering-design process when creating her mind-blowing designs. She starts by considering the theme or purpose of an installation and brainstorms images or words she might want to use in it. Then, she tests each section of the design individually before assembling it all together.
Testing allows Hevesh to make precise corrections if something isn’t working right. She builds the biggest 3-D sections first, then adds flat arrangements and lines of dominoes that connect them all together. Finally, she tests the entire assembly in slow motion to ensure that it will work properly when it’s finished.
If you’re looking for a new challenge, consider becoming a domino artist! You can choose from straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Just be sure to plan out your design before you start assembling it, so that you know how many dominoes you’ll need and what the track will look like. You can use paper or a computer program to help you with your planning. Try it out and see if you can build something spectacular!