Final answer:
The process being described is modulation, specifically Amplitude Modulation (AM), where the shape of a sound wave is altered to represent binary 1s and 0s for the transmission of digital data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of changing the shape of the sound wave to represent a binary 1 or 0 is known as modulation. Specifically, in telecommunications, this modulation can occur in various ways, such as through changes in amplitude (AM), frequency (FM), or phase of the carrier wave. Amplitude Modulation (AM) involves varying the amplitude of a carrier wave to encode information, transmitting data with a constant frequency but a varying amplitude. This type of modulation is particularly useful for allowing digital data to be conveyed accurately, even when the signal strength is weak. It also enables more efficient use of bandwidth by compressing data using computer algorithms.
Aside from AM, other methods like Frequency Modulation (FM) or Phase Modulation are used to represent digital data in the form of ones and zeros. These modulation techniques enable the reliable transmission of complex data, such as cell phone conversations and television broadcasts, by effectively converting analog signals into a digital binary sequence that electronic devices can process and interpret.