Provided are methods, computer programs and apparatus supporting use of generic shortcuts. Generic shortcut sequences are sequences of generic inputs that are defined to an application program to initiate specific operations of the application, and which translate to a respective input sequence receivable from each of a plurality of different types of input device. An application program written to support generic shortcut sequences will initiate specific application operations when received device-specific inputs translate into a sequence of generic inputs and the sequence includes a generic shortcut sequence. An event translator applies mappings between receivable device-type-specific inputs and respective generic inputs, to allow received input sequences to be translated into sequences of generic inputs. The resulting sequences of generic inputs are compared with defined generic shortcut sequences. If a match is identified between the sequence of generic inputs (generated by translating received device-specific inputs) and a defined generic shortcut sequence, the generic shortcut sequence initiates its respective application operation.