" There is an overlaying invisible rectangle in each screen designated to swipe gesture detection"
Um, the tableview already generates swipeLeft and swipeRight events for you: http://docs.coronalabs.com/api/library/widget/newTableView.html
Or, as an alternative, you can do this without the rectangle or swipe-left/swipe-right event by tracking “moved” events as Rob suggested. But in no case do you need the rectangle. The rectangle is not your friend. It is your enemy. Kill the rectangle. Murder it, bury it, sprinkle salt on its grave, and let us never speak of it again.