Microsoft keyboard function keys don't work
 

I have this Microsoft Intellitype wireless USB keyboard which has some extra function keys like play/pause buttons or a calculator button. I have been through the man pages and i have found a way to assign a code on some of these keys. There are two problems actually:
i. The possible values I can use are from 1-127 but the values from 1-124 seem to be taken and the number of the keys i want to add are more than those provided.

ii. I don't know how to tell the machine to start an application (like the calculator for instance). The only information i get from the man pages is how to switch between keys or how to perform several commands using key combinations such as shutdown.


PS I am using RedHat 9