Computer Awareness and Basic Digital Literacy
Computer Awareness checks hardware, software, memory, operating systems, MS Office, internet and email, digital payments, and basic cyber safety. Questions are factual and often shortcut-based.
Core facts
- Input devices: keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone. Output: monitor, printer, speaker.
- Memory order: bit → byte → KB → MB → GB → TB. 1 byte = 8 bits.
- RAM is volatile; ROM is non-volatile.
- MS Word shortcuts: Ctrl+B bold, Ctrl+I italic, Ctrl+U underline, Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+P print.
- Excel: =SUM(A1:A5) adds a range; =AVERAGE(B2:B6) gives the mean.
- PowerPoint: F5 starts the slideshow from the beginning.
- URL identifies a web resource; HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP.
- Email fields: To, Cc, Bcc. Bcc hides recipients from others.
- UPI is an instant bank-to-bank payment system operated by NPCI.
Worked example
In a sheet, B2=10, B3=20, B4=30, B5=40, B6=50. What does =AVERAGE(B2:B6) return? The range contains five values; their sum is 150; 150 divided by 5 gives 30. A common error is to divide by 4 by miscounting the cells, or to use =SUM instead of =AVERAGE.
Traps
- Do not mix up Save (Ctrl+S) with Save As.
- RAM losing data on power-off is a favourite question.
- Never share an OTP or PIN; banks do not ask for them.
- A search engine is not the same as a browser.