The process of converting analog signals into digital signals so that they can be processed by a receiving computer is referred to as:

Explanation:
To provide a detailed solution, let's break down the process of converting analog signals into digital signals and explain each step:
1. Analog Signals:
- Analog signals are continuous waveforms that represent real-world data such as sound, temperature, or light intensity.
- These signals have infinite possibilities and can take any value within a specific range.
2. Digital Signals:
- Digital signals are discrete and binary in nature, consisting of only two possible values: 0 and 1.
- These signals are used by computers and digital devices to represent and process information.
3. Process of Conversion:
- The process of converting analog signals into digital signals involves several steps:
a. Sampling:
- The analog signal is sampled at regular intervals to capture its amplitude at each point in time.
- The sampling rate determines the number of samples taken per second, also known as the sample rate.
b. Quantization:
- Each sampled value is quantized by assigning it a specific digital value from a predefined range.
- This process reduces the infinite possibilities of the analog signal to a finite number of digital values.
- The number of digital values available is determined by the bit depth or resolution.
c. Encoding:
- The quantized digital values are encoded into binary code, usually represented as a series of 0s and 1s.
- This encoding allows the digital signal to be transmitted or stored in a format that computers can process.
d. Transmission:
- The digital signal can now be transmitted over various communication channels such as cables, fiber optics, or wireless networks.
- The binary representation of the signal ensures accurate and reliable transmission.
e. Reception and Decoding:
- The receiving computer or device receives the digital signal and decodes it back into quantized values.
- The decoding process reverses the encoding and quantization steps, reconstructing the original analog signal.
f. Processing:
- Once the analog signal is converted back to digital form, the receiving computer can process it using various algorithms and techniques.
- Digital signal processing (DSP) techniques can be applied to manipulate, analyze, or extract information from the digital signal.
Conclusion:
- The entire process of converting analog signals into digital signals, including sampling, quantization, encoding, transmission, reception, decoding, and processing, is collectively known as digitizing.
- Therefore, the correct answer to the given question is D. Digitizing.

The process of converting analog signals into digital signals so that they can be processed by a receiving computer is referred to as digitizing.

Analog signals are continuous waveforms that represent information such as sound, temperature, or light intensity. On the other hand, digital signals are discrete and represent information using binary code, which consists of a series of 0s and 1s. The process of converting analog signals into digital signals is essential in modern communication systems, as it allows for more efficient and accurate transmission of data.

Reasons for Digitizing:

There are several reasons why analog signals are digitized before being processed by a receiving computer:

1. Noise Reduction: Analog signals are susceptible to noise interference, which can distort the original information. By converting analog signals into digital signals, it becomes easier to filter out the noise and restore the original data.

2. Signal Compression: Digital signals can be compressed more efficiently than analog signals, resulting in reduced file sizes. This is crucial in applications such as audio and video streaming, where large amounts of data need to be transmitted over limited bandwidths.

3. Error Detection and Correction: Digital signals allow for the implementation of error detection and correction techniques. By adding additional bits to the digital signal, the receiving computer can detect and correct any errors that may have occurred during transmission.

The Process of Digitizing:

The process of digitizing analog signals involves several steps:

1. Sampling: The analog signal is sampled at regular intervals to obtain discrete data points. The sampling rate determines the number of samples taken per second and is typically measured in kilohertz (kHz) or megahertz (MHz).

2. Quantization: The sampled analog signal is then quantized, which involves assigning a numerical value to each sample. The number of bits used for quantization determines the resolution of the digital signal, with higher bit depths resulting in more accurate representation of the original analog signal.

3. Encoding: The quantized samples are encoded into binary code, usually using a technique called pulse code modulation (PCM). In PCM, each sample is represented by a binary number, with the number of bits determined by the quantization resolution.

4. Transmission: Once the analog signal has been digitized, it can be transmitted to a receiving computer using various communication channels, such as wired or wireless networks. The digital signal can be easily transmitted and received without significant degradation or loss of information.

5. Decoding: At the receiving computer, the digital signal is decoded back into analog form. This involves reversing the encoding process, converting the binary code back into quantized samples, and then reconstructing the continuous waveform.

In conclusion, the process of converting analog signals into digital signals, known as digitizing, enables efficient and accurate transmission of information. This process involves sampling, quantization, encoding, transmission, and decoding, ensuring that the original analog signal is faithfully represented in digital form.