PDF 417 and a Bridge Strategy for 1D Bar Codes to RFID

Back when I was working for Symbol Technologies the use of 1D (Dimensional) bar coding was just coming into the healthcare marketplace. Scanners were laser scanners and different scan engines were needed to scan the bar code.  Some of these earlier scanners could not read composite or even 2D or PDF 417.  That has pretty much changed now that everything has moved to CCD imaging.  I always found it in amazement that Symbol pioneered PDF-417, it is used by U.S. Government for ID badges, Federal Express, and a host of other industries after Symbol placed this into the public domain. This definitely would be improvement in marking medical equipment etc. You placed into PDF-417, the services history of a medical device.  For instance in 1"x1" PDF-417, you can contain the entire Gettsyburg address.