What core aspect of vehicle operation did Spikes focus on, which is noted as being as critical as raw performance?
Answer
Usability
A key insight from Spikes' work, particularly regarding the automatic gear shift, was his focus on the interface between the human operator and the machine itself. This concern directly relates to usability—how easy and intuitive the controls are to manage under normal operating conditions. This focus positioned usability as a paramount engineering concern, suggesting that even the most powerful or technically sound vehicle is ineffective or dangerous if the average driver cannot interact with its core functions simply and reliably.
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