[smky80]

I really don't get people who think consciousness emerges from an algorithm basically, that can be transferred to software.

If someone built a gigantic abacus and used to slowly simulate a brain, would that cause a consciousness to emerge?

[andrewflnr]

If you're a materialist, yes, as far as I can tell simulating a brain or running any sort of equivalent software must cause consciousness to arise. Speed is not really part of the question. It's the shape of the computation that determines consciousness.