October 26, 2026
Proposal of effective inclusive mobile architecture guidelines for financial autonomy of the elderly
Proposal of Effective “Mobile” Architecture Guidelines for Financial Autonomy of the Elderly
Michelle Budri Bognar; Daniele Aparecida Cicillini Pimenta
DOI: 10.22167/2675-6528-202601242
Article prepared by the ResumeAI tool, an artificial intelligence solution developed by the Pecege Institute focused on synthesis and writing.
Summary
The digitalization of financial services has generated significant usability barriers for the elderly population, resulting in digital exclusion. The study aimed to propose and validate, through a high-fidelity prototype, inclusive mobile architecture guidelines to promote the autonomy of this audience in financial applications. The research, of an applied nature and with a quali-quantitative approach, used an electronic form answered by 38 family members and caregivers of elderly people. The data were processed via descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results indicated high dependence, with half of the participants performing financial transactions entirely on behalf of the end-user. In addition to the underutilization of native accessibility tools, it was found that technical language, confusing icons, and complex flows generated cognitive overload, insecurity, and fear of fraud. To mitigate these obstacles, the prototype implemented the structural minimalism paradigm, adopting oversized buttons, linear navigation, and multimodal interactions. It was evident that native accessibility settings are insufficient, highlighting the need for a design centered on the limitations of aging to ensure financial independence in the digital environment.
Keywords: Digital accessibility; Content analysis; Inclusive design; User experience; Usability.
1. Introduction
The advancement of digital technologies has profoundly transformed the way services are accessed and financial transactions are conducted. The expansion of mobile devices, in particular, has brought unprecedented convenience to the daily lives of many. However, this technological progress has not manifested homogeneously, and the elderly population frequently faces significant barriers that compromise their social and financial inclusion in the digital environment (Nielsen and Budiu, 2013; Cybis, Betiol and Faust, 2015). This disparity points to a crucial challenge in ensuring equitable access to essential digital services.
Global population aging demands the urgent development of technological solutions that consider the sensory, cognitive, and motor limitations inherent to this age group. Such considerations are vital not only for practical usability but also to ensure the right to autonomy and dignity, as stipulated in legislation such as the Statute of the Elderly (Brazil, 2003). Empirical observations have shown recurring difficulties for this demographic in using mobile applications, especially in financial services. Problems such as navigation disorientation, difficulties in reading interface elements, and a general lack of confidence affect the autonomous use of these technologies.
The digitalization of banking and financial services, while offering numerous benefits, has created a high entry barrier for the elderly population. Data from a recent study indicate a high level of functional dependence in this group. For example, a significant portion of seniors (50%) fully delegate their financial transactions to third parties, while 29% require assistance with reading and 21% with verbal guidance. Furthermore, only 21% use financial applications daily, with the majority (66%) doing so sporadically or not using them independently (13%). This scenario highlights that the complexity of current interfaces and the demands for fine motor precision often force the elderly to rely on external assistance, compromising their financial autonomy.
Studies in ergonomics and usability emphasize that digital accessibility goes beyond mere visual adjustments, requiring intuitive information architectures and simplified flows (Garrett, 2011). Usability principles, as outlined by Nielsen (1993), also highlight the importance of consistency and recognition over recall, aspects often overlooked in current applications. Despite the existence of consolidated accessibility guidelines, such as the “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines” (W3C, 2023), many applications still present significant flaws, especially in adapting to features like screen magnification and screen readers. Furthermore, there is a notable scarcity of specific proposals for the architecture of financial applications aimed at the elderly public in the Brazilian context. This gap highlights the need for integrated guidelines that encompass accessibility, usability, and inclusive design, specifically addressing age-related limitations.
The persistent usability barriers that limit digital inclusion for the elderly, even in the face of established guidelines (Garrett, 2011; W3C, 2023), lead to a central research question: how to structure architectures for mobile devices that promote the digital autonomy of the elderly population in financial applications? This problem is aggravated by findings indicating that technical language, confusing icons, and overly complex flows contribute to cognitive overload, insecurity, and fear of fraud among elderly users. Fitts’s Law (1954), for example, explains how the time to reach a target is a function of the distance and size of the target, highlighting the difficulty of interaction with small elements for this audience. The justification for this research lies in the urgency of addressing these issues, promoting a digital environment where financial independence is not only possible but easily achievable for the elderly.
The current landscape reveals that native accessibility settings on devices are often insufficient, underscoring the need for a design approach centered on the limitations of aging to ensure financial independence in the digital environment. Thus, the present study is justified by the imperative need to develop practical solutions that mitigate these usability bottlenecks. The objective of this work was to propose inclusive design guidelines, validated through a high-fidelity prototype, aiming to mitigate usability bottlenecks and promote the digital autonomy of the elderly population in financial applications.
2. Material and Methods
The research was characterized as an exploratory-descriptive study, of an applied nature and quali-quantitative approach, based on a case study. The methodological design aimed to understand the digital usability and accessibility challenges faced by the elderly in financial applications. The central objective was to propose inclusive “mobile” architecture guidelines and validate them through a high-fidelity prototype.
The sample consisted of 38 family members or caregivers of elderly individuals who assisted these users with digital activities, especially in the use of financial applications. Convenience selection required frequent cohabitation with the elderly person (aged 60 years or older), supervision in the use of digital technologies, and experience with financial applications. Participants without direct contact or support experience were excluded.
Data collection was carried out using a structured electronic questionnaire, applied on the Google Forms platform (Appendix A). The instrument addressed the profile of the respondents and the assisted elderly individuals, in addition to usability, perceived accessibility, digital autonomy, and dependence. For content validity, the questionnaire was evaluated by three specialists in usability and systems development, resulting in adjustments for clarity and adequacy.
Data collection occurred over three weeks, with data exported to spreadsheets in Google Sheets. Participants were informed about the objectives and consented to the use of data for academic purposes, with anonymity and confidentiality. The research was exempted from submission to the Research Ethics Committee (CEP), according to Resolution CNS No. 510/2016, but ethical principles were rigorously followed.
The operationalization of the variables considered digital dependence, navigation difficulty, interface barriers, and the use of accessibility resources. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, and qualitative data by Bardin’s (2016) content analysis, identifying recurring thematic categories.
The analysis followed the technique of methodological triangulation, articulating quantitative results, caregivers’ perceptions, and the theoretical-normative framework, including accessibility and usability guidelines. This approach validated the evidence and strengthened analytical consistency. For the structural and visual design of the high-fidelity prototype and the proposed Design System, the Figma tool was used.
Figma, a cloud-based vector graphics editing software, was used for designing the screens of the financial application, defining and standardizing visual components such as typography, colors, and spacing. The tool enabled the simulation of navigation flows, including operations like transfers and payments. It allowed for visual validation of the proposed accessibility and ergonomics guidelines, focusing on the sizing of interactive elements, color contrast, and information organization in a “mobile” environment.
The prototype validation was conducted analytically and conceptually, based on criteria inspection and verification of adherence to accessibility and usability guidelines. The inspection was performed directly in Figma, using its tools to audit dimensions and colors. The evaluation, based on technical and normative references, aimed to verify the coherence, consistency, and applicability of the proposed guidelines, without conducting tests with end-users.
The validation criteria were defined based on the “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines” (W3C, 2023), Nielsen’s usability heuristics (1993), the “Material Design” guidelines (Google, 2025), and the “Human Interface Guidelines” (Apple, 2025). For systematization purposes, criteria such as typographic adequacy, clarity of information architecture, simplicity of navigation flows, visual and semiotic consistency, and compatibility with accessibility features were established.
For the structural and visual design of the high-fidelity prototype, a unique Design System was developed, structured in pillars aimed at mitigating cognitive, visual, and motor barriers. This system standardized the color palette to maximize readability, adopted “Sans Serif” typography with body text at 18pt and bold titles. Touch areas were expanded to 48x48px, and main buttons to 56px in height. The information architecture followed linear flows of “one task per screen,” and the highlighting of critical information ensured a superior visual weight for sensitive data.
3. Results and Discussion
The research, which involved data collection through an electronic form answered by 38 family members and caregivers of elderly individuals, revealed a panorama of significant digital dependence and usability challenges in financial applications. Initial results indicated that the sample of elderly individuals assisted by the participants was predominantly concentrated in the age groups of 60 to 70 years and 71 to 80 years, both with 45% of the distribution, while 10% were over 80 years old. This concentration in age groups that frequently experience sensory and cognitive declines underscores the relevance of inclusive design to ensure digital autonomy.
The frequency of autonomous use of financial applications by the elderly demonstrated a critical deficit of independence. Only 21% of seniors used these applications daily, while the majority, 66%, used them sporadically (weekly or monthly). A considerable portion, 13%, did not use the applications independently. This intermittent or non-existent usage pattern, as observed, suggests that current interfaces do not meet the autonomy needs of this audience, forcing them to depend on third parties for essential financial tasks.
Functional dependence was a central finding, with 50% of the elderly fully delegating their financial transactions to family members or caregivers. In the remaining cases, 29% needed assistance reading information on the screen, and 21% required verbal guidance to navigate the applications. This scenario reinforces the perception that banking digitalization, although convenient for many, establishes a high entry barrier for the elderly population, turning family members into constant mediators of their digital financial lives.
The underutilization of native accessibility features on mobile devices was also evident, with 41% of seniors not using any assistive functionality. Among those who did use them, the most common adjustments were font size increase (38%) and zoom (15%). Screen readers and contrast enhancement were used by smaller portions, 4% and 2% respectively. This behavior aligns with the observations of Nielsen and Budiu (2013), who highlight the low adoption of complex settings. This suggests that accessibility should be intrinsic to interface design, rather than relying on manual user adjustments, as advocated by the W3C guidelines (2023).
In the cognitive domain, the perception of navigation difficulty was concentrated at moderate and high levels of complexity. The presence of excessively abstract icons and hidden menus imposed significant barriers to immediate function recognition, requiring considerable mnemonic effort from users. This finding contradicts Nielsen’s (1993) heuristic, which emphasizes the importance of recognition over recall for good usability, this being a critical factor for the autonomy of older adults in the digital environment.
Readability and visual comprehension barriers were predominantly attributed to technical language or difficult-to-understand terms, which stood out as the main obstacle to interaction fluidity. Confusing icons or those without explanatory captions, very small fonts, poorly highlighted important information, and long texts or those with excessive information were also cited as relevant difficulties. These results indicate that structural flaws are not limited to the presentation interface but reside in semantic communication and information architecture, hindering the correct interpretation of the mental model proposed by the system (Garrett, 2011).
Regarding the motor aspect, the responses indicated severe limitations in interacting with small-sized elements. Interfaces that demand high motor precision disregard physiological alterations intrinsic to aging, such as reduced fine motor coordination and the occurrence of senile tremors. This finding evokes Fitts’s Law (1954), which predicts that the time required to reach a target is a function of the distance and size of the target. Thus, smaller interactive components increase difficulty and the probability of error, reinforcing the need for enlarged touch areas and generous spacing for safer and more assertive interaction.
Qualitative research, based on participant reports, allowed the identification of three thematic categories that explain the digital dependence of the elderly on financial applications. The first category is disorientation in navigation flows, where the difficulty in locating basic functions, such as bill payments, reveals a lack of predictability in interaction paths. The second category is insecurity and fear of errors, generated by the complexity of interfaces and the fear of password lockouts or incorrect transfers. The third category is cognitive overload, resulting from an excess of information and the need to memorize procedures.
The inconsistency between flows from different payment methods, such as Pix and bank slip, was a factor that hindered learning by repetition, essential for usability, according to Nielsen (1993). The lack of standardization made it impossible to build a stable mental model, forcing the elderly to relearn procedures with each new use. The management of multiple passwords and authentication mechanisms was also pointed out as a critical blocking factor, increasing confusion and the probability of errors, which intensified the fear of account blocking and dependence on third parties.
Participants’ suggestions converged towards the implementation of simplified versions or an “elderly mode” in applications, focusing on reducing accessory functionalities and prioritizing essential operations. The demand for multimodal interfaces, with auditory feedback and voice confirmations, aligns with the guidelines of Garrett (2011) and W3C (2023), reaffirming the urgency of design solutions oriented towards structural simplicity to ensure the digital emancipation of this demographic group. These proposals aim to mitigate cognitive overload and increase user confidence.
Development and implementation of guidelines in the high-fidelity prototype
Based on the mapping of usability barriers and the analysis of family members’ perceptions, a high-fidelity prototype was developed to validate the proposed “mobile” architecture guidelines. The central objective of the prototype was to translate the needs for simplicity, security, and accessibility into practical interface components, aiming to reduce cognitive overload and the need for memorization by the elderly user. The main interface was conceived under the “Simplified Mode” paradigm, replacing abstract icons with large buttons, arranged vertically and accompanied by clear and direct textual labels, such as “View Balance” and “Make Payment”.
To overcome the low adherence to the operating system’s native accessibility settings, the application incorporated a dedicated Accessibility menu. This menu allows for instant adjustment of font sizes and activation of high contrast within the application itself, offering the user direct control over their visual experience. The demand for multimodal interactions was met with the inclusion of a voice assistant, activated by a command such as “Tap to Speak,” ensuring that motor limitations in typing do not prevent seeking help. Furthermore, a consolidated and clean view of movements in Balance and Statement was implemented to facilitate the understanding of financial information.
The insecurity associated with the fear of errors and fraud, identified as a critical factor for avoiding autonomous use, guided the restructuring of the financial transfer flow. The process was redesigned in a linear and preventive manner, with a reduction of ambiguous steps and the insertion of explicit verification mechanisms. The application of Fitts’s Law in the value input interface, through an enlarged numeric keypad, reduced the probability of motor errors. The use of photographs and contact linking identification favored immediate recognition, reducing cognitive load and strengthening user confidence during task execution.
The recurring difficulty in making payments was addressed by fragmenting the flow into sequential and cognitively accessible steps. The confirmation screen highlights critical information, such as amount and recipient, with enlarged typography and simplified visual organization, reducing ambiguities. The final feedback unequivocally communicates the completion of the operation, contributing to the building of security and predictability in the interaction. These implemented solutions demonstrate a direct relationship between the identified problems and the applied guidelines, replacing complex interfaces with linear flows and simplified language.
The prototype demonstrates, at a conceptual level, the technical feasibility of the proposed guidelines and reinforces the importance of adopting approaches centered on the elderly user in the development of financial applications. The detailing of the Design System used, including components, typography, and visual patterns, ensures visual consistency, interface scalability, and strict adherence to accessibility guidelines. The information architecture was designed under the premise of strictly linear flows, based on the concept of “one task per screen”, which is crucial for reducing cognitive overload and simplifying the decision-making process.
The emphasis of critical information in the prototype ensures that sensitive data, such as bank balance, receives a visual weight treatment twice as high as supporting texts. The use of large-scale fonts for numerical values, combined with confirmation seals such as “Updated Information”, guarantees immediate focus on the main data and validates the security of the operations performed. This approach, which integrates usability, accessibility, and inclusive design, offers practical subsidies for the development of mobile interfaces more aligned with the needs of the elderly population, promoting their digital autonomy.
In summary, the research results revealed that the elderly population faces significant usability and accessibility barriers in financial applications, manifested by high dependence on third parties, underutilization of native accessibility features, and cognitive and motor difficulties. The proposal for inclusive “mobile” architecture guidelines, materialized in the high-fidelity prototype, demonstrated the ability to mitigate these bottlenecks by implementing structural minimalism, oversized buttons, linear navigation, and multimodal interactions, directly responding to the objective of promoting the digital autonomy of this audience in the financial environment.
4. Conclusion
The present study aimed to propose and validate inclusive “mobile” architecture guidelines, through a high-fidelity prototype, seeking to promote the autonomy of the elderly population in financial applications. It was found that the digitalization of financial services generated significant usability barriers, resulting in high dependence of this audience, where a considerable portion fully delegated their transactions or needed assistance for reading and verbal guidance. The underutilization of native accessibility features and the prevalence of cognitive and motor difficulties, such as technical language, confusing icons, and complex flows, were observed, generating cognitive overload, insecurity, and fear of fraud. These findings evidenced that native accessibility settings are insufficient to guarantee autonomous use, highlighting the need for a design centered on the limitations of aging.
To mitigate these obstacles, the high-fidelity prototype implemented the structural minimalism paradigm, adopting oversized buttons, linear navigation, and multimodal interactions, such as a voice assistant. This approach demonstrated the ability to reduce cognitive load and increase safety in performing digital financial operations. The main contribution of this work lies in the systematization of practical guidelines that integrate usability, accessibility, and inclusive design, offering concrete subsidies for the development of “mobile” interfaces more aligned with the needs of the elderly population in the context of Software Engineering, promoting their financial independence in the digital environment. As a limitation, the absence of empirical validation with end-users stands out, and for future research, it is recommended to conduct usability tests with the direct participation of elderly people in real contexts, aiming to evaluate the impact of the proposed guidelines in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. It is concluded that the digital inclusion of the elderly population does not depend exclusively on the availability of accessible technologies, but on design decisions intentionally oriented towards their limitations and needs.
Bibliographic References
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