I'm not new to C, controllers, or circuits, but I'm completely new to Arduino and the USB protocol. I'm interested in the quickest, most pain-free approach to solving the following task:
USB keyboard plugs into something, and the computer also plugs (via USB) into the something on the other end. I type QWERTY on the keyboard, and the something spits out QGMWLY to the computer. Keys are mapped to whatever I program the something to have. All keys need to work, and yes, it HAS to be done in hardware.
Telling me to just switch the keyboard layout in the OS is not a viable solution. The software we're using ignores the OS and assumes a QWERTY keyboard is what you want, so I'm fairly certain I've no choice but to trick it via hardware.
I'm willing to spend whatever amount of money on hardware, and I'm willing to learn/do whatever it takes, but I want this to take the least amount of time. After perusing many options online (most of them being Arduino based), I still don't have a good concept of which approach is the quickest/simplest. If someone can steer me in the right direction so that I don't select the path of most resistance, it would be greatly appreciated.
If you could use a ps2 keyboard, that would be easiest. Just plug the keyboard into the arduino and the arduino into the pc, following the PS2 library, and write a sketch to match and re-send key codes. If it must be a usb keyboard, ps2 adapters might work, otherwise your looking at a two part solution involving USB HID and USB host.
Well if your in a hurry, sparkfun as a usb host shield avalible and it claims software support provided for HID devices (like usb keyboards). I don't have any first hand experience with it, but it does look promising at a pretty attractive price.
Thanks all for the suggestions. dhunt, your passthrough prank device looks perfect! I'll definitely give it a try and resist the urge to plug it into my colleague's computer when he plays Starcraft 2.