You can also [assign shortcuts to scripts](https://superuser.com/questions/153890/assign-a-shortcut-to-running-a-script-in-os-x/264943#264943) like this:

    tell application "System Events" to tell process "Dock"
        click UI element 1 of list 1
    end tell

Or just use [KeyRemap4MacBook](https://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/xml.html.en) to assign shortcuts to applications directly:

    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <root>
      <vkopenurldef>
        <name>KeyCode::VK_OPEN_URL_FINDER</name>
        <url>file:///System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app</url>
      </vkopenurldef>
      <vkopenurldef>
        <name>KeyCode::VK_OPEN_URL_ITUNES</name>
        <url>file:///Applications/iTunes.app</url>
      </vkopenurldef>
      <item>
        <name>custom</name>
        <identifer>custom</identifier>
        <autogen>__KeyToKey__ KeyCode::KEY_1, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_R | ModifierFlag::NONE, KeyCode::VK_OPEN_URL_FINDER</autogen>
        <autogen>__KeyToKey__ KeyCode::KEY_2, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_R | ModifierFlag::NONE, KeyCode::VK_OPEN_URL_ITUNES</autogen>
      </item>
    </root>