I'm also quite a fan of these;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJVhwg5o0vA

But they seem to going out of fashion at the moment based on some rather dubious science. They haven't built a new one in the UK for about 40 years now and are getting rid of the ones they had. I'm not a fan of poverty as it is quite injurious to ones health and life expectancy.

Yep, too bad our govt is banning coal fired plants in the US, well except for here in Alaska, Bwa-ha ha ha...

For me I think the personal locator beacon (PLB) is stunning technology ... and costs folks under $300. It can bring rescue from anywhere in the world. Amazing.

Its your job to survive until that help arrives.

I also think GPS technology is pretty cool. I've read lots of stories of folks simply getting lost in the wilderness.

LEDs were mentioned. For me their benefit is as much their toughness. I clearly recall bringing my good incandescent light along camping and then one little drop ... and busted. Not sure why I never carried extra bulbs.

I'm not so sure this is survival, but I'm going to put a special thought in for modern coated nylon tents. I don't miss heavy damp mildewing canvas tents that you had to avoid touching while inside the tent to keep from starting a drip. Ugh!

Similar can be said for synthetic clothing and good synthetic insulation. Goodbye wool and cotton.

Really good stainless/semi-stainless knife steel is pretty nice stuff.

The greatest mankind's technological achievement so far, imo - the Internet. True game changer for entire planet.