Mar 22, 2011 14:35 GMT  ·  By

Moore's Law has practically dictated the development of newer and better processors, particularly the advancement to the next manufacturing process, but a certain natural disaster might just compromise it.

One might say that there are two big problems with natural disasters, and those that they are most unpredictable and, secondly, capable of turning the world on its head.

The recent catastrophe that hit Japan on March 11 could very well be said to be defined by both of these features.

Not only is the death toll expected to exceed 18,000, but the earthquake and Tsunami ravaged much of the infrastructure, including some key points of the IT industry.

Certainly, the damaged nuclear reactor and the radiation leaks, along with the persistent danger of nuclear meltdown, remains the top problem.

Still, there was enough time for analysts to take a close look at what the IT industry will suffer from all this, and not all results were promising.

While some segments won't suffer overmuch, the global chip production, especially in the case of memory products, was hit hard.

Now, it is reported that Nomura Securities found many facilities around the area of the disaster were damaged, among others.

A major point of concern would be the shutting down production sites owned by Nikon, which specializes in camera and lens production.

To get a better grasp of what this means, users should know that three of the damaged facilities made the high-power litography lens systems that companies like Intel use in the making of semiconductors.

Basically, Intel's ability to move up to a more advanced manufacturing process technology may be impaired, what with Nikon making 45nm and 32nm lenses and likely to have been the one meant to produce 22nm lenses as well.

Intel did, supposedly comment on this, saying that it is monitoring the Japans situation and that key suppliers came through 'in reasonable shape.'

Whether or not the damage is being downplayed will become clear with time, since the chip giant will either manage to stick to its process advancement schedule or delay its plans (fail to abide by Moore's Law, in other words).