What does it mean to 'move the needle'?

• In US politics to 'move the needle' is to significantly change the opinion polls in the direction of your candidate. 
• An alternative - more recent - origin to the one above comes from seismology. The movement of the Richter Scale indicates the strength of an earthquake.
• The expression “moving the needle” first appeared in England during the industrial revolution in relation to gauges on steam engines. 
• During World War II, it referred to aviation gauges. 
• In business today it can be used generically to describe making progress.