infra red sensors are suitable to replace a relay while switching computer keyboard ?

Sir
let me help here for a very simple but importatnt designing
i ve a versatile use of my computer system (its a big chapter no need to discuss that) for which i need the operation of keyboard on a separate pads like structure as i ve to hit all the time which may damage my keyboard after sometime but too that hardware cant be design in home , so i am planing to connect parallel switching structure like separated relay microswitch etc with the keyboard's internal diffrent terminals & for now i ve a cheap but proper USB keyboard & few relays & microswitches also ,
but what if i want to replace the relays etc with some digital circuit i am designing using ir photo diode sensors etc ? is it possbile to implant it without any hazard ? is there any danger for mother board of my system or the USB port where i am connecting the keyboard ? please reply

in short is it possbile to switch the keybord internal terminals with ir photodiode directly in place of relay etc ?

as i studied relay will simply make switchings but photo diode generates some potentials which may harm the system further , i am thinking in that way but not sure about it