In How Visa Protects Your Data, Michael Fitzgerald at Fast Company talks about their tour of the top-secret security center, where Visa revealed how it protects sensitive information and makes virtual money safe. Definitely an interesting read!

If you’re not familiar with Gartner’s hype cycles, they regularly chart where they feel new technologies are, in terms of adoption. The typical adoption “hype cycle” is laid out below (click to enlarge).

Now Gartner has a new one for 2011, so check out which new technologies are coming up the pipe. Are there any you’re excited for? What do you think will just be a fad? What could change the world? Share your thoughts in the comments!