What technology do image and text scanners use to convert images into editable text?

The correct choice is Optical Character Recognition (OCR) because this technology specifically allows scanners to analyze the shapes of characters in an image and convert them into machine-readable text. OCR works by recognizing the patterns of light and dark that make up letters and numbers, allowing it to translate printed or handwritten text into a format that can be edited, searched, and indexed.

This technology is essential for transforming physical documents into digital formats, enabling further manipulation and use in various software applications. For instance, when a document is scanned using OCR, the software can identify each character, recognize words, and output them as text that can be modified in word processing software.

In contrast, other options such as data processing and digital input processing are broader concepts that do not specifically address the character recognition aspect involved in converting images to text. Bitmap imaging refers to the method of representing images in pixels, but it does not imply the analysis and conversion of text itself. Thus, OCR is the precise technology responsible for transforming images of text into editable formats.