Domino’s World Resource Center Ann Arbor
Dominoes, also known as bones, cards, men or pieces, are flat blocks used for gaming. They are normally twice as long as they are wide, allowing them to be stacked one on top of another. Each domino has a line or ridge that divides it visually into two squares, and each square is marked with an arrangement of dots or blanks. These dots are called pips and they give each domino a unique identity, which is important in many games. The number of pips on either side of a domino may be used to indicate the value of that domino (i.e., how many points it will add to a chain when played to it). A domino with all of its pips arranged in the same manner may be referred to as a “single” and a domino with all of its pips in different arrangements is a “double.”
Like playing cards, dominoes are often used for various games that involve betting or counting. The most common are positional games in which a player places a domino edge to edge with another in such a way that the adjacent ends match or form some specified total. The player who makes the most matches earns the highest score.
In modern times, dominoes have been made of a variety of materials. While plastic is the most common, domino sets are also commonly made of wood (particularly mahogany, maple, walnut and oak), a dark resin or ebony shell, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (“mother of pearl” or MOP), and even ivory. Such materials generally have a more substantial feel and are more expensive than polymer sets.
While many domino games use only a single set of tiles, the four most popular are usually referred to as double-6, double-9, double-12 and double-15 sets. Each set has a name based on the number of pips on the top face of the largest domino in the set. Most games are designed to be played with a double-6 set, but many can be modified for play with larger or smaller sets.
Domino’s has spent years focused on cutting-edge technology developed and built largely by teams working out of its World Resource Center in Ann Arbor. These teams have been given a new space to further develop their ideas and bring them to life in the form of the Domino’s Innovation Garage. The garage is a place for the company to collaborate, test and prototype ideas that will help Domino’s deliver more than just pizza. By focusing on this, the company has been able to increase delivery services and innovate in areas beyond pizza, all while improving customer experience. This has been an effective strategy for the company, as it has seen a steady rise in customer satisfaction and sales over the past several quarters. This has helped the company to grow while reducing costs, which is essential in the current business climate.