Computer and Business Fundamentals: Core Vocabulary and Concepts
Computer and Business Fundamentals is tested inside Communication Ability, typically through terminology and basic awareness questions rather than programming. Revise the vocabulary of hardware, software, memory, the internet, office applications, and common commercial documents.
Computer basics
Hardware is physical; software is instructions. Input devices include keyboard, mouse, scanner; output devices include monitor, printer, speaker. Primary memory is directly accessed by the CPU: RAM is volatile and loses contents when power is off; ROM is non-volatile and retains firmware. Secondary storage includes hard disks and SSDs. Data units: 1 byte = 8 bits; 1 KB = 1024 bytes. An operating system manages hardware, files, and processes (Windows, Linux, Android). Internet terms: URL is a web address; HTTP/HTTPS is the transfer protocol; a browser renders web pages; LAN is a local network, WAN a wide-area network.
Business basics
An invoice lists goods or services sold and the amount due; a receipt proves payment. In double-entry bookkeeping, every transaction has a debit and a credit. Capital is owner investment; revenue is income from sales; profit = revenue − expenses. E-commerce is buying or selling online; GST is a consumption tax; an IPO is a company's first public share sale.
Worked example
'Which memory loses its contents when the computer is switched off?' RAM. It is volatile working memory; ROM retains its contents, which is why firmware can start the machine.
Traps
Confusing RAM with ROM, or bit with byte. Mixing 'debit' and 'credit' without fixing the account perspective. Treating 'HTTP' and 'HTML' as the same. Guessing an acronym instead of recalling its expansion.