These large data files are commonly used in high energy physics, astronomy, genome sequencing etc. Some of theme take hours, if not days to transfer. Advanced applications such as collaboratoriums, tele-immersion, video conferencing etc mostly appeal to computer scientists and network researchers. But for the most part did not address the real networking needs of researchers in the physical and social sciences. Most of the problems are not in the network but in the application stack 3.
Campus networks remain a major bottle neck.
Until the campus connectivity problem is solved new applications will not work. Overwhelming agreement that NSF should fund campus backbone upgrades 4. Lack of human resources as so much technical talent is being pulled off the campus into high paying jobs in industry. Everybody agrees there is no easy solution. The NSF is not addressing the needs of the Internet industry.