The other way to look at this is that consciousness emerges from a certain kind of structure and processes independent of the matter it is represented on. Cons

The other way to look at this is that consciousness emerges from a certain kind of structure and processes independent of the matter it is represented on. Consciousness would emerge in our brains from the neural structure and activity, but it would also emerge when computed in a computer simulation or (as a thought experiment) calculations on paper or xkcd-esque pebbles in sand. That would make the computer, calculations on paper and pebbles in the sand as conscious as a human. Which, admittedly sounds just as crazy as the idea of consciousness being tied to all matter.