ICT Applications: Modelling, Control, Banking, Medicine, Retail and Recognition Systems

This guide covers subtopics 6.2 to 6.11 of Topic 6, ICT applications, in Cambridge IGCSE Information and Communication Technology 0417 (2026–2028 syllabus). Each subtopic is a real-world use of ICT, and Paper 1 questions almost always take the same shape: describe how the system works, then give its advantages and disadvantages for a named scenario. Subtopic 6.1, Communication, has its own study guide.

Syllabus coverage

CAMBRIDGE IGCSE ICT (0417) — TOPIC 6 ICT APPLICATIONS, 6.2–6.11

• 6.2 Modelling applications — computer modelling, including personal finance, bridge and building design, flood water management, traffic management and weather forecasting; advantages and disadvantages of using computer modelling rather than humans
• 6.3 Computer controlled systems — robotics in manufacture, production line control and autonomous vehicles; advantages and disadvantages of computer control rather than humans
• 6.4 School management systems — managing learner registration and attendance; recording learner performance, including computer aided learning
• 6.5 Booking systems — characteristics, uses, advantages and disadvantages of online booking for the travel industry, concerts, cinemas and sporting events
• 6.6 Banking applications — ATMs (withdrawing cash, depositing cash or cheques, checking a balance, mini statements, bill paying, money transfers); electronic funds transfer (EFT), credit/debit card transactions, cheques and internet banking
• 6.7 Computers in medicine — patient records and pharmacy records; 3D printing of prosthetics, tissue engineering, artificial blood vessels and customised medicines
• 6.8 Expert systems — uses, including mineral prospecting, car engine fault diagnosis, medical diagnosis, chess, financial planning, route scheduling for delivery vehicles and plant and animal identification; the components (user interface, inference engine, knowledge base, rules base, explanation system); how an expert system produces possible solutions
• 6.9 Computers in the retail industry — POS terminals (automatic stock updating and reordering); EFTPOS terminals (card validity checks, chip and PIN, contactless cards, NFC payment, communication between the shop’s computer and the bank’s computer); internet shopping
• 6.10 Recognition systems — OMR, OCR (including ANPR), RFID, NFC and biometric recognition
• 6.11 Satellite systems — GPS, satellite navigation, GIS and media communication systems (satellite television and satellite phones)

What is computer modelling used for? (6.2)

A computer model is a mathematical representation of a real system, usually built from formulas and rules in a spreadsheet or specialist software. Changing the inputs and asking “what if?” shows what would happen without trying it in real life.

Application	What is modelled
Personal finance	Income, spending and savings over time; the effect of a change in interest rate
Bridge and building design	Loads, wind and earthquakes on a structure before it is built
Flood water management	Rainfall, river levels and flood defences, to plan barriers and warnings
Traffic management	Vehicle flow at junctions, to test light timings or new road layouts
Weather forecasting	Data from sensors and satellites run through models to predict future weather

Advantages over humans or real tests: cheaper than building real prototypes; safer, because dangerous situations (a bridge collapse, a flood) can be tested; faster, because many scenarios run in minutes; and variables can be changed easily. Disadvantages: a model is only as accurate as its data and formulas; real-life conditions may not be fully represented; specialist software and expertise can be expensive.

How are computer controlled systems used? (6.3)

In robotics in manufacture, robots weld, paint and assemble products. Production line control uses sensors and computers to move items along the line, check them and stop the line if a fault is detected. Autonomous vehicles use sensors, cameras and GPS so a computer can steer, brake and accelerate without a driver.

Advantages over humans: work continuously without breaks; consistent quality and precision; can work in dangerous environments; lower running costs over time. Disadvantages: high initial cost; expensive to maintain and reprogram; cannot easily cope with unusual situations; fewer jobs for manual workers.

What do school management systems do? (6.4)

Registration and attendance can be recorded electronically — for example by staff on a computer, with swipe or RFID cards, or with biometrics such as fingerprints. This gives accurate, up-to-date records, lets the school spot patterns of absence quickly and know who is on site in an emergency.

Learner performance is recorded as marks and grades that can be analysed to produce reports for parents and identify learners needing help. Computer aided learning uses software to deliver lessons and tests, giving instant feedback and letting learners work at their own pace — but it needs devices and cannot fully replace a teacher’s support.

How do online booking systems work? (6.5)

Online booking is used in the travel industry (flights, hotels), for concerts, cinemas and sporting events. The user searches for availability, chooses seats or dates, enters personal and payment details, and receives an electronic ticket or confirmation. The system updates the database immediately, so the same seat cannot be sold twice.

Advantages: book at any time from anywhere; see availability and choose seats; often cheaper with special offers; instant confirmation and e-tickets. Disadvantages: needs an internet connection and a device; risk of fraud or hacking of personal data; booking fees; less personal than speaking to an agent; a mistake may be hard to correct.

Banking applications (6.6)

An ATM lets a customer withdraw cash, deposit cash or cheques, check a balance, print a mini statement, pay bills and transfer money. The card is inserted, the PIN is checked, and the ATM communicates with the bank’s computer to check the account before the transaction is completed. ATMs are available at all hours and in many places, but can be targets for card skimming and may charge fees.

Electronic funds transfer (EFT) moves money between accounts electronically, for example when wages are paid. Credit and debit card transactions take money from the account (debit) or lend it (credit). Cheques are a slower paper method still used by some customers. Internet banking lets customers manage accounts online at any time, saving travel, but needs internet access and carries risks such as phishing.

Computers in medicine (6.7)

Patient records store personal details, medical history, test results and treatments in a database so that authorised staff can see them quickly. Pharmacy records store prescriptions and drug details, helping to check for allergies and interactions and manage stock.

3D printers are used to print prosthetics shaped to the individual, in tissue engineering (building layers of living cells), to make artificial blood vessels, and to produce customised medicines designed for one patient.

How does an expert system work? (6.8)

An expert system imitates the knowledge and decision-making of a human expert. Named uses include mineral prospecting, car engine fault diagnosis, medical diagnosis, chess games, financial planning, route scheduling for delivery vehicles and plant and animal identification.

Component	Role
User interface	Asks the user questions and shows results
Knowledge base	Stores the facts about the subject
Rules base	Stores the rules (IF … THEN …) linking facts
Inference engine	Applies the rules to the user’s answers and the knowledge base to reach conclusions
Explanation system	Explains how the conclusion was reached

Producing a solution: the interface asks questions (often yes/no); the inference engine searches the knowledge base using the rules; the system suggests possible solutions, often with a probability or confidence; the explanation system shows the reasoning.

Computers in the retail industry (6.9)

A POS terminal reads each item’s barcode, looks up its price and description in the stock file, and updates the stock level automatically. When the stock falls to its reorder level, the system can order new stock automatically from the supplier.

An EFTPOS terminal handles payment by card. It checks the card is valid (for example, not expired or stolen); the customer uses chip and PIN, taps a contactless card, or pays with a phone using NFC. The shop’s computer contacts the bank’s computer to check that the funds are available, the money is transferred, and the transaction is authorised.

Internet shopping lets customers browse and buy at any time, compare prices and have goods delivered. Drawbacks include not seeing goods before buying, delivery costs and delays, and security risks to payment data; for shops it means fewer staff and premises but more competition.

Recognition systems (6.10)

System	How it works	Uses
OMR	Reads marks in set positions on a form	School registers, multiple-choice exam papers, barcodes and QR codes
OCR	Converts images of text into editable text	Automated number plate recognition (ANPR)
RFID	Reads data from a tag using radio waves, without line of sight	Tracking stock, passports, automobiles, contactless payment
NFC	Very short-range wireless communication	Paying with a smartphone
Biometrics	Recognises a unique body feature	Face, iris, retina, finger, thumb, hand, voice

Typical advantages are speed and fewer human errors; typical disadvantages are cost, and errors when marks, text or features are unclear. Biometrics cannot be forgotten or lost but raise privacy concerns.

Satellite systems (6.11)

GPS uses signals from several satellites to calculate a receiver’s position. Satellite navigation combines GPS with maps to give route directions. A GIS captures and layers geographic data (roads, rivers, population) for planning and analysis. Media communication systems include satellite television and satellite phones, which reach remote areas without cables.

Advantages: work almost anywhere; accurate positioning; route planning saves time and fuel. Disadvantages: signal loss in tunnels or among tall buildings; maps may be out of date; satellite equipment is expensive; over-reliance on navigation.

Common mistakes

• Describing a model as “the real thing” — always say it predicts or simulates.
• Listing advantages of a system without linking them to the scenario in the question.
• Mixing up the knowledge base (facts) and the rules base (rules) in an expert system.
• Confusing OMR (marks in set positions) with OCR (reading text).
• Saying a POS terminal “orders stock” without mentioning the reorder level check.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between POS and EFTPOS? A POS terminal records the sale and updates stock; an EFTPOS terminal handles the electronic card or phone payment and contacts the bank.

Why is RFID used for stock tracking instead of barcodes? RFID tags can be read by radio without line of sight, and many can be read at once, which makes tracking faster.

What does the inference engine do? It applies the rules in the rules base to the facts in the knowledge base and the user’s answers to reach a possible solution.

Related resources

• ICT applications revision notes (6.2–6.11)
• ICT applications practice questions (6.2–6.11)
• 6.1 Communication study guide

Official syllabus

Cambridge IGCSE ICT (0417) syllabus for examination 2026-2028 — cambridgeinternational.org.