Is there a (not-too impossible) way to alter the output of a generic USB keyboard? Having looked at the insides of some that I have they seem fairly intimidating to my limited knowledge.

I use a DVORAK layout, and I'd much rather not have to rely on the OS to be on the correct language mode, especially since I remote in to a number of machines used by QWERTY users and the input is rarely how I'd like.

Some manufacturers sell hardwired keyboards like this, some that even switch between the two inputs, but coughing up cash for a keyboard I've never felt or typed on before seems less than ideal, I would much rather simply mod a keyboard I know I enjoy and use stickers over the keycaps to show the correct layout.

Is such a thing even possible?

P.S. Yes I realize this is what I get for wanting to use a different input layout.

If you reverse out the keymap matrix, you could program a microcontroller to read it and output the correct letters. Not easy, it is time consuming, but very doable.

Or if it was REALLY worth it to you, you could take apart the keyboard, wire new buttons to each key, and place them in the correct spot - you end up with a double sized, really clunky keyboard, but it'd work.

Or you could just tell windows or linux to use DVORAK, instead of QWERTY if it's plugged into a computer.

i use dvorak regularly. on a qwerty keyboard. i have forced myself to touchtype dvorak so i dont even have to look at the keyboard. now, because its still a qwerty keyboard and the keys arent rearranged, if i need qwerty, i can look at the keyboard and it has qwerty on it still.

I rearranged the keys on my model m at one point in time; it really messed up other people who tried to use my computer at lan parties and such.