[mbrock]

What do you mean by computation? What's an example of something that isn't computation?

[deafcalculus]

In this context, I intended it to mean a combination of addition, multiplication, and a small set of relatively simple non-linear functions.

[RivieraKid]

That means you can create consciousness by simulating a Turing machine with pen and paper, or by positioning sand systematically. You can encode its memory in different ways by giving different meaning to different positioning of sand. So randomly throwing sand around could create a Turing computation of consciousness (and all kinds of feelings) with the right choice of encoding.