Keyboard Key

[Okeg]

So, seeing how "crazed" I am about industrial equipment I obviously got a strange idea.
Having a key-slot on my desk, and inserting a key into that slot in order to let the signal from my input devices flow into my pc.
I was thinking about a design like this: Input devices>USB Hub>Cablefromusbhub|some sort of switch thing|The rest of the cable>PC.
Now, what i'm wondering is;
1. Will my idea work.
2. Will my design(plan) work, if not; what can i do?
3. What kind of key will I need, and what can I use as a switch?

[Muirium]

Some keyboards have a lock built right into them. Tipro modular keyboards can have a lock up at the top right if I remember. And, way back, my first ever tower had a lock on the front which would indeed disable keyboard and mouse input. This was long enough ago I bet it was DIN jack keyboard and a serial mouse!

As for interrupting USB: it's electrically easy. USB is 4 inner wires, two of which are the signal. Use a switch to break those two and the port will even still charge things, while completely ignoring them as far as the computer is concerned. Hot plug support works in your favour.

But if you're using Windows, I'm sure it'll get naggy. Bloody thing gives me hell any time I touch it, and forget which precise USB port to use so it doesn't have to "reinstall" my same old mouse and keyboard. Glad I seldom have to.

[asura]

Make yourself a key and a lock - as complex or simple as you choose, have the key turn a cam, have the cam either directly or via a lever plug and unplug a USB plug from its socket...

Other options are electrical, and not my field.

[mr_a500]

So, seeing how "crazed" I am about industrial equipment I obviously got a strange idea.
Having a key-slot on my desk, and inserting a key into that slot in order to let the signal from my input devices flow into my pc.

Interesting idea. I'd want to set it up so that inserting and turning the key will start the computer - just like a car.

What I really want is a totally unnecessary bank of big metal dip switches and NASA-like lighted buttons - and I have to flip a certain sequence to get it started (all with nice beeps and whirring noises) - though I imagine anybody witnessing my start up procedure will say, "Uh... what the hell are you doing??"

[Muirium]

First primary power system is go.
Central motherboard power delivery system is go.
PCIe power… go.
Hard drives are go.
SSD is go.
Memory controller is go.
Auxiliary lighting go.
USB power is go.

All systems go!

[Okeg]

well, I feel we're going off topic now. I mean for the peripherals, not for starting up the computer.
Altough a500's idea seems really nice.