What IEEE 802.11 standard specifies both spread spectrum RF and infrared (IR) transmission technologies?

The choice that indicates the IEEE 802.11 standard encompassing both spread spectrum RF and infrared (IR) transmission technologies is the broad designation of 802.11 itself. This foundational standard laid the groundwork for various adaptations and advancements in wireless communication.

The original 802.11 standard introduced in 1997 described protocols for wireless local area networks, employing frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) for RF, as well as supporting infrared (IR) transmission, which was less common but included as part of the standard's capability.

Subsequent amendments, such as 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g, refine the technology further but are primarily focused on specific RF technologies and do not include IR as an option. Therefore, the designation of the 802.11 standard as a whole is the correct answer because it encompasses both RF and IR transmission methods at its inception.