Systems and methods for translating user input in a high definition video playback system are disclosed. A disc viewer is configured to execute at least one user interactive program stored on a high definition optical disc defining a user interface. The user interactive program defines a user interface and a plurality of keyboard event handlers for interaction with the user interface. The user interface includes a plurality of selectable user interface elements. A user interface renderer is configured to encode for display the user interface. A non-keyboard input translator is configured to receive a non-keyboard user input translates it into at least one keyboard event.