This is a very good answer, but here's a modified version of the Viewport plugin you mentioned.
(function($) {
$.belowthefold = function(lookIn, elements, settings) {
    var fold = $(lookIn).height() + $(lookIn).scrollTop();
    return $(elements).filter(function(){
        return fold <= $(this).offset().top - settings.threshold;
    });
};
$.abovethetop = function(lookIn, elements, settings) {
    var top = $(lookIn).scrollTop();
    return $(elements).filter(function(){
        return top >= $(this).offset().top + $(this).height() - settings.threshold;
    });
};
$.rightofscreen = function(lookIn, elements, settings) {
    var fold = $(lookIn).width() + $(lookIn).scrollLeft();
    return $(elements).filter(function(){
        return fold <= $(this).offset().left - settings.threshold;
    });
};
$.leftofscreen = function(lookIn, elements, settings) {
    var left = $(lookIn).scrollLeft();
    return $(elements).filter(function(){
        return left >= $(this).offset().left + $(this).width() - settings.threshold;
    });
};
})(jQuery);
With HTML like this:
<div id="lookInMe">
    <div class="peek"></div>
    <div class="peek"></div>
    [ ... ]
</div>
Call it like this:
$.belowthefold("#lookInMe", ".peek", {threshold : 0}).text("Below");
$.abovethetop("#lookInMe", ".peek", {threshold : 0}).text("Above");
$.leftofscreen("#lookInMe", ".peek", {threshold : 0}).text("Left");
$.rightofscreen("#lookInMe", ".peek", {threshold : 0}).text("Right");
http://jsfiddle.net/daCrosby/vhF7x/1/