1. A computer implemented method of providing visual feedback to a computer user during manipulation of selected text on a display device of a computer system, the computer system including a control device for interactively positioning a visible symbol and an insertion caret on the display device, the computer also having a signal generation device for signaling an active state and an inactive state, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: a) in response to an active state of the signal generation device while the visible symbol is over the selected text at a source location on said display device: 1) creating and displaying a text object of the selected text, the text object including a visible portion of the selected text that is less than all of the selected text; 2) de-emphasizing the selected text at the source location; b) in a finite series of steps, moving the text object on the display device along a line between the source location and the visible symbol until the text object reaches the visible symbol; c) displaying the insertion caret near the visible symbol to indicate a point of insertion of the selected text; d) moving the visible symbol in response to the control device and moving the text object in response to movement of the visible symbol; e) in response to an inactive state of the signal generation device while the visible symbol is over a destination location: 1) on the display device zooming from a first bounding rectangle for the selected text at the source location to a second bounding rectangle for the selected block of text at the destination location such that the movement of the first bounding rectangle to the size and location of the second bounding rectangle at the destination location is animated; and 2) displaying on screen the selected text at the destination location.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the computer implemented steps of: a) while the visible symbol is located over the selected text displaying the visible symbol on the display device as an arrow; and b) while the visible symbol is not located over the selected block text displaying the visible symbol on the display device as an I-beam.