Thank you for the adafruit tip, I will check it out!
I know tonight he said something about a wanting some sensor kit, and motors, DC motors or something? His mom is getting him a soldering iron at his request.
Home automation is the one closest to describing him from that list! He is currently working with a professor on a research project that is programming sensors on a helicopter so that it can fly by itself.. something about mimicking insects swarming ... I know I sound like I listen to nothing about his life.. but I'm in the Bio/Chem field so all of these electronics words go right over my head.