It’s hard to believe there are only a couple of weeks left in 2009. It’s been a great year for TechStuff. Not that we’re quite ready to say goodbye to 2009 yet. In the near future, you’ll be able to hear how Chris and I scored on our predictions for 2009, following up on a show we recorded at the end of 2008. And in another episode you’ll hear us prognosticate on what we can expect in 2010.

This week, we focused on a listener mail request and a more general discussion. The request was about Project Natal, Microsoft’s innovative video game controller system. Microsoft unveiled the control interface at the Electronic Entertainment Expo last June. Gamers will be able to play video games without using a controller at all. They can also scan normal devices to act as a controller within certain games (thanks to all the TechStuff listeners who wrote in to remind me about that — it slipped my mind during the recording). In the episode, Chris and I talk a little about the history of controllers as well as what we think the future will be.

Wednesday’s episode was all about the theory behind electronics. We discuss the relationship between current, voltage and resistance. We also give a brief overview of what a circuit is and why its important. Oh, and I take some pot shots at a beloved figure of American history.