HOW TO USE THIS MAP Click the white arrows to show comments To read individual comments, click on the map markers See these comments as a message board

Democratic Senator Barack Obama has been elected the first black president of the United States, according to projected results. How will an Obama presidency affect your life?

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight... change has come to America," the president-elect told a jubilant crowd at a victory rally in Chicago.

His rival John McCain accepted defeat, saying "I deeply admire and commend" Mr Obama. He called on his supporters to lend the next president their goodwill.

Projected results have yet to be announced for the states of North Carolina and Missouri, but at 0846 GMT, Mr Obama's share of the popular vote stood at 52%, compared with Mr McCain's 46.7%.

The map is part of a trial to find new ways of showing comments sent in by our readers.

Did you like this map? Tell us what you think here.