This is something a bit more advanced than just programming and exploiting, but I think it's definitely something to look into for any novice hacker.
It may enable you to alter characteristics of certain hardware and f.e. enable a wireless reciever to send altered packets for wireless hacking. (that way you don't have to buy any specific hardware, you can just do it yourself)
You don't really need to have any knowledge for this, you can just follow the series and you will be able to follow everything. (although a basic knowledge of electric circuits and C/C++ comes in really handy)!
This is a youtube series on this subject, and it's really good!
Here is the link ;) Just start with 1 and follow through if you're up for it!
If I find some more information on this subject, I will post it here ;) (I'm currently trying to reprogram my own microcontroller to make the lights on my keyboard work again, else it would cost me more than 100$ to fix it)